Transgenic plants: a 5-year update on oral antipathogen vaccine development

Abstract

The progressive interest in transgenic plants as advantageous platforms for the production and oral delivery of vaccines has led to extensive research and improvements in this technology over recent years. In this paper, the authors examine the most significant advances in this area, including novel approaches for higher yields and better containment, and the continued evaluation of new vaccine prototypes against several infectious diseases. The use of plants to deliver vaccine candidates against viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic parasites within the last 5 years is discussed, focusing on innovative expression strategies and the immunogenic potential of new vaccines. A brief section on the state of the art in mucosal immunity is also included.

Keywords::

• delivery system
• marker-free system
• oral immunization
• transgenic plant
• transplastomic technology
• vaccine
• viral expression vector

Acknowledgements

We thank Juan Francisco Rodríguez for English edition.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by CONACyT (CB-152793 and 102109), Fundación Miguel Alemán, SAGARPA, SENASICA, and the Programa de investigación para el desarrollo y la optimización de vacunas, adyuvantes y métodos diagnósticos del Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM. G Fragoso was sponsored by Grant CONACyT (CB-152793) and S Rosales-Mendoza was sponsored by Grant CONACyT 102109. G Fragoso, J Cervantes, E Sciutto, M Hernández were supported by Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM. G Fragoso and E Sciutto were supported by the Programa de investigación para el desarrollo y la optimización de vacunas, adyuvantes y métodos diagnósticos del Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM. S Rosales-Mendoza was supported by Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UASLP and G Rosas was supported by Facultad de Medicina, UAEM. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Key issues

• A view on the evolution of plant-based vaccines technology is provided.

• Key aspects of the mucosal immunity are commented.

• Improvements in antigen expression have been achieved by the use of viral vectors, marker-free systems, protein tags, and transplastomic technologies.

• Molecular strategies have the potential of enhancing biosafety aspects by minimizing undesired gene flow.

• Models of plant-based vaccine studies reported over the last 5 years are commented.

• Perspectives for the field in the coming years are identified.