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Bharathi JK, Suresh P, Prakash MAS, Muneer S. Exploring recent progress of molecular farming for therapeutic and recombinant molecules in plant systems. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37634. [PMID: 39309966 PMCID: PMC11416299 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
An excellent technique for producing pharmaceuticals called "molecular farming" enables the industrial mass production of useful recombinant proteins in genetically modified organisms. Protein-based pharmaceuticals are rising in significance because of a variety of factors, including their bioreactivity, precision, safety, and efficacy rate. Heterologous expression methods for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products have been previously employed using yeast, bacteria, and animal cells. However, the high cost of mammalian cell system, and production, the chance for product complexity, and contamination, and the hurdles of scaling up to commercial production are the limitations of these traditional expression methods. Plants have been raised as a hopeful replacement system for the expression of biopharmaceutical products due to their potential benefits, which include low production costs, simplicity in scaling up to commercial manufacturing levels, and a lower threat of mammalian toxin contaminations and virus infections. Since plants are widely utilized as a source of therapeutic chemicals, molecular farming offers a unique way to produce molecular medicines such as recombinant antibodies, enzymes, growth factors, plasma proteins, and vaccines whose molecular basis for use in therapy is well established. Biopharming provides more economical and extensive pharmaceutical drug supplies, including vaccines for contagious diseases and pharmaceutical proteins for the treatment of conditions like heart disease and cancer. To assess its technical viability and the efficacy resulting from the adoption of molecular farming products, the following review explores the various methods and methodologies that are currently employed to create commercially valuable molecules in plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jothi Kanmani Bharathi
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608002, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Preethika Suresh
- School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil-Nadu, India
- Department of Horticulture and Food Science, School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil-Nadu, India
| | - Muthu Arjuna Samy Prakash
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608002, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sowbiya Muneer
- Department of Horticulture and Food Science, School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil-Nadu, India
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2
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Buriev ZT, Shermatov SE, Usmanov DE, Mirzakhmedov MK, Ubaydullaeva KA, Kamburova VS, Rakhmanov BK, Ayubov MS, Abdullaev AN, Eshmurzaev JB, Mamajonov BO, Tulanov AA, Ismailova AA, Petrova TA, Rozumbetov RJ, Aripova TU, Muminov MI, Ermatova KY, Dalimova DA, Turdikulova SU, Abdukarimov A, Abdurakhmonov IY. Tomato-made edible COVID-19 vaccine TOMAVAC induces neutralizing IgGs in the blood sera of mice and humans. Front Nutr 2024; 10:1275307. [PMID: 38260078 PMCID: PMC10800535 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1275307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-based edible vaccines that provide two-layered protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outweigh the currently used parenteral types of vaccines, which predominantly cause a systemic immune response. Here, we engineered and selected a transgenic tomato genotype (TOMAVAC) that stably synthesized an antigenic S1 protein of SARS-CoV-2. Two-course spaced force-feeding of mice with ≈5.4 μg/ml TOMAVAC increased up to 16-fold the synthesis of RBD-specific NAbs in blood serum and the significant induction of S-IgA in intestinal lavage fluid. In a surrogate virus neutralization test, TOMAVAC-induced NAbs had 15-25% viral neutralizing activity. The results suggested early evidence of the immunogenicity and protectivity of TOMAVAC against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Furthermore, we observed a positive trend of statistically significant 1.2-fold (average of +42.28 BAU/ml) weekly increase in NAbs in the volunteers' serum relative to the initial day. No severe side effects were observed, preliminarily supporting the safety of TOMAVAC. With the completion of future large-scale studies, higher-generation TOMAVAC should be a cost-effective, ecologically friendly, and widely applicable novel-generation COVID-19 vaccine, providing two-layered protection against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zabardast T Buriev
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Shukhrat E Shermatov
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Dilshod E Usmanov
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | | | | | - Venera S Kamburova
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Bakhtiyor K Rakhmanov
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Mirzakamol S Ayubov
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Adkham N Abdullaev
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Jakhongir B Eshmurzaev
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Behzod O Mamajonov
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Akmal A Tulanov
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Adolat A Ismailova
- Institute of Immunology and Human Genomics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Tatyana A Petrova
- Institute of Immunology and Human Genomics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Ramazan J Rozumbetov
- Institute of Immunology and Human Genomics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Tamara U Aripova
- Institute of Immunology and Human Genomics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Muzaffar I Muminov
- Center of Advanced Technologies, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Khusnora Y Ermatova
- Center of Advanced Technologies, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Dilbar A Dalimova
- Center of Advanced Technologies, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Shahlo U Turdikulova
- Center of Advanced Technologies, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Abdusattor Abdukarimov
- Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
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Santoni M, Gutierrez-Valdes N, Pivotto D, Zanichelli E, Rosa A, Sobrino-Mengual G, Balieu J, Lerouge P, Bardor M, Cecchetto R, Compri M, Mazzariol A, Ritala A, Avesani L. Performance of plant-produced RBDs as SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic reagents: a tale of two plant platforms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1325162. [PMID: 38239207 PMCID: PMC10794598 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1325162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tools. Serological tests, particularly those measuring antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the virus, play a pivotal role in tracking infection dynamics and vaccine effectiveness. In this study, we aimed to develop a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring RBD-specific antibodies, comparing two plant-based platforms for diagnostic reagent production. We chose to retain RBD in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to prevent potential immunoreactivity issues associated with plant-specific glycans. We produced ER-retained RBD in two plant systems: a stable transformation of BY-2 plant cell culture (BY2-RBD) and a transient transformation in Nicotiana benthamiana using the MagnICON system (NB-RBD). Both systems demonstrated their suitability, with varying yields and production timelines. The plant-made proteins revealed unexpected differences in N-glycan profiles, with BY2-RBD displaying oligo-mannosidic N-glycans and NB-RBD exhibiting a more complex glycan profile. This difference may be attributed to higher recombinant protein synthesis in the N. benthamiana system, potentially overloading the ER retention signal, causing some proteins to traffic to the Golgi apparatus. When used as diagnostic reagents in ELISA, BY2-RBD outperformed NB-RBD in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and correlation with a commercial kit. This discrepancy may be due to the distinct glycan profiles, as complex glycans on NB-RBD may impact immunoreactivity. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of plant-based systems for rapid diagnostic reagent production during emergencies. However, transient expression systems, while offering shorter timelines, introduce higher heterogeneity in recombinant protein forms, necessitating careful consideration in serological test development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Denise Pivotto
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Zanichelli
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Guillermo Sobrino-Mengual
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
- Applied Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Juliette Balieu
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Patrice Lerouge
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Muriel Bardor
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, IRIB, GDR CNRS Chemobiologie, RMT BESTIM, Rouen, France
| | - Riccardo Cecchetto
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Monica Compri
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, UOC Microbiologia e Virologia, Verona, Italy
| | - Annarita Mazzariol
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anneli Ritala
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, Finland
| | - Linda Avesani
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Gissot L, Fontaine F, Kelemen Z, Dao O, Bouchez I, Deruyffelaere C, Winkler M, Costa AD, Pierre F, Meziadi C, Faure JD, Froissard M. E and M SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein expression and enrichment with plant lipid droplets. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300512. [PMID: 37986207 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Plants are gaining traction as a cost-effective and scalable platform for producing recombinant proteins. However, expressing integral membrane proteins in plants is challenging due to their hydrophobic nature. In our study, we used transient and stable expression systems in Nicotiana benthamiana and Camelina sativa respectively to express SARS-CoV-2 E and M integral proteins, and target them to lipid droplets (LDs). LDs offer an ideal environment for folding hydrophobic proteins and aid in their purification through flotation. We tested various protein fusions with different linkers and tags and used three dimensional structure predictions to assess their effects. E and M mostly localized in the ER in N. benthamiana leaves but E could be targeted to LDs in oil accumulating tobacco when fused with oleosin, a LD integral protein. In Camelina sativa seeds, E and M were however found associated with purified LDs. By enhancing the accumulation of E and M within LDs through oleosin, we enriched these proteins in the purified floating fraction. This strategy provides an alternative approach for efficiently producing and purifying hydrophobic pharmaceuticals and vaccines using plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Gissot
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Florent Fontaine
- SAS Core Biogenesis, 850 Bd Sébastien Brant BioParc 3, 67400, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Zsolt Kelemen
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Ousmane Dao
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Isabelle Bouchez
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Carine Deruyffelaere
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Michèle Winkler
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Anais Da Costa
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Fabienne Pierre
- SAS Core Biogenesis, 850 Bd Sébastien Brant BioParc 3, 67400, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Chouaib Meziadi
- SAS Core Biogenesis, 850 Bd Sébastien Brant BioParc 3, 67400, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Jean-Denis Faure
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
| | - Marine Froissard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
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Chattopadhyay A, Jailani AAK, Mandal B. Exigency of Plant-Based Vaccine against COVID-19 Emergence as Pandemic Preparedness. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1347. [PMID: 37631915 PMCID: PMC10458178 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11081347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
After two years since the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than six million deaths have occurred due to SARS-CoV-2, leading to an unprecedented disruption of the global economy. Fortunately, within a year, a wide range of vaccines, including pathogen-based inactivated and live-attenuated vaccines, replicating and non-replicating vector-based vaccines, nucleic acid (DNA and mRNA)-based vaccines, and protein-based subunit and virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines, have been developed to mitigate the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These vaccines have proven highly effective in reducing the severity of illness and preventing deaths. However, the availability and supply of COVID-19 vaccines have become an issue due to the prioritization of vaccine distribution in most countries. Additionally, as the virus continues to mutate and spread, questions have arisen regarding the effectiveness of vaccines against new strains of SARS-CoV-2 that can evade host immunity. The urgent need for booster doses to enhance immunity has been recognized. The scarcity of "safe and effective" vaccines has exacerbated global inequalities in terms of vaccine coverage. The development of COVID-19 vaccines has fallen short of the expectations set forth in 2020 and 2021. Furthermore, the equitable distribution of vaccines at the global and national levels remains a challenge, particularly in developing countries. In such circumstances, the exigency of plant virus-based vaccines has become apparent as a means to overcome supply shortages through fast manufacturing processes and to enable quick and convenient distribution to millions of people without the reliance on a cold chain system. Moreover, plant virus-based vaccines have demonstrated both safety and efficacy in eliciting robust cellular immunogenicity against COVID-19 pathogens. This review aims to shed light on the advantages and disadvantages of different types of vaccines developed against SARS-CoV-2 and provide an update on the current status of plant-based vaccines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirudha Chattopadhyay
- Pulses Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar 385506, India;
| | - A. Abdul Kader Jailani
- Department of Plant Pathology, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Quincy, FL 32351, USA
| | - Bikash Mandal
- Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
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Shen AM, Malekshah OM, Pogrebnyak N, Minko T. Plant-derived single domain COVID-19 antibodies. J Control Release 2023; 359:1-11. [PMID: 37225092 PMCID: PMC10231691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Data show a decrease in the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. To date, global vaccinations for SARS-CoV-2 protections are underway, but additional treatments are urgently needed to prevent and cure infection among naïve and even vaccinated people. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are very promising for prophylaxis and therapy of SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, traditional large-scale methods of producing such antibodies are slow, extremely expensive and possess a high risk of contamination with viruses, prions, oncogenic DNA and other pollutants. The present study is aimed at developing an approach of producing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein in plant systems which offers unique advantages, such as the lack of human and animal pathogens or bacterial toxins, relatively low-cost manufacturing, and ease of production scale-up. We selected a single N-terminal domain functional camelid-derived heavy (H)-chain antibody fragments (VHH, AKA nanobodies) targeted to receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and developed methods of their rapid production using transgenic plants and plant cell suspensions. Isolated and purified plant-derived VHH antibodies were compared with mAbs produced in traditional mammalian and bacterial expression systems. It was found that plant generated VHH using the proposed methods of transformation and purification possess the ability to bind to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein comparable to that of monoclonal antibodies derived from bacterial and mammalian cell cultures. The results of the present studies confirm the visibility of producing monoclonal single-chain antibodies with a high ability to bind the targeted COVID-19 spike protein in plant systems within a relatively shorter time span and at a lower cost when compared with traditional methods. Moreover, similar plant biotechnology approaches can be used for producing monoclonal neutralizing antibodies against other types of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Shen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, USA
| | - Obeid M Malekshah
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, USA
| | - Natalia Pogrebnyak
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, USA
| | - Tamara Minko
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, USA.
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The Plant Viruses and Molecular Farming: How Beneficial They Might Be for Human and Animal Health? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021533. [PMID: 36675043 PMCID: PMC9863966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant viruses have traditionally been studied as pathogens in the context of understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of a particular disease affecting crops. In recent years, viruses have emerged as a new alternative for producing biological nanomaterials and chimeric vaccines. Plant viruses were also used to generate highly efficient expression vectors, revolutionizing plant molecular farming (PMF). Several biological products, including recombinant vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, diagnostic reagents, and other pharmaceutical products produced in plants, have passed their clinical trials and are in their market implementation stage. PMF offers opportunities for fast, adaptive, and low-cost technology to meet ever-growing and critical global health needs. In this review, we summarized the advancements in the virus-like particles-based (VLPs-based) nanotechnologies and the role they played in the production of advanced vaccines, drugs, diagnostic bio-nanomaterials, and other bioactive cargos. We also highlighted various applications and advantages plant-produced vaccines have and their relevance for treating human and animal illnesses. Furthermore, we summarized the plant-based biologics that have passed through clinical trials, the unique challenges they faced, and the challenges they will face to qualify, become available, and succeed on the market.
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Mathew M, Thomas J. Tobacco-Based Vaccines, Hopes, and Concerns: A Systematic Review. Mol Biotechnol 2022:10.1007/s12033-022-00627-5. [PMID: 36528727 PMCID: PMC9759281 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-022-00627-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases have vigorously devastated the global economy and health sector; cost-effective plant-based vaccines (PBV) can be the potential solution to withstand the current health economic crisis. The prominent role of tobacco as an efficient expression system for PBV has been well-established for decades, through this review we highlight the importance of tobacco-based vaccines (TBV) against evolving infectious diseases in humans. Studies focusing on the use of TBV for human infectious diseases were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and science direct from 1995 to 2021 using the keywords Tobacco-based vaccines OR transgenic tobacco OR Nicotiana benthamiana vaccines AND Infectious diseases or communicable diseases. We carried out a critical review of the articles and studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Of 976 studies identified, only 63 studies fulfilling the eligibility criteria were included, which focused on either the in vitro, in vivo, or clinical studies on TBV for human infectious diseases. Around 43 in vitro studies of 23 different infectious pathogens expressed in tobacco-based systems were identified and 23 in vivo analysis studies were recognized to check the immunogenicity of vaccine candidates while only 10 of these were subjected to clinical trials. Viral infectious pathogens were studied more than bacterial pathogens. From our review, it was evident that TBV can be an effective health strategy to combat the emerging viral infectious diseases which are very difficult to manage with the current health facilities. The timely administration of cost-effective TBV can prevent the outburst of viral infections, thereby can protect the global healthcare system to a greater extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mintu Mathew
- Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Kochi, Kerala India
| | - Jaya Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Kochi, Kerala India
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Mardanova ES, Kotlyarov RY, Ravin NV. Rapid Transient Expression of Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 and the Conserved M2e Peptide of Influenza A Virus Linked to Flagellin in Nicotiana benthamiana Plants Using Self-Replicating Viral Vector. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11243425. [PMID: 36559537 PMCID: PMC9785242 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The development of recombinant vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A is an important task. The combination of the conserved influenza A antigen, the extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e), and the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (RBD) provides the opportunity to develop a bivalent vaccine against these infections. The fusion of antigens with bacterial flagellin, the ligand for Toll-like receptor 5 and potent mucosal adjuvant, may increase the immunogenicity of the candidate vaccines and enable intranasal immunization. In this study, we report the transient expression of RBD alone, RBD coupled with four copies of M2e, and fusions of RBD and RBD-4M2e with flagellin in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using the self-replicating potato virus X-based vector pEff. The yields of purified recombinant proteins per gram of fresh leaf tissue were about 20 µg for RBD, 50-60 µg for RBD-4M2e and the fusion of RBD with flagellin, and about 90 µg for RBD-4M2e fused to flagellin. Targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum enabled the production of glycosylated recombinant proteins comprising RBD. Our results show that plant-produced RBD and RBD-4M2e could be further used for the development of subunit vaccines against COVID-19 and a bivalent vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza A, while flagellin fusions could be used for the development of intranasal vaccines.
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10
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Plant Molecular Pharming and Plant-Derived Compounds towards Generation of Vaccines and Therapeutics against Coronaviruses. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10111805. [DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The current century has witnessed infections of pandemic proportions caused by Coronaviruses (CoV) including severe acute respiratory syndrome-related CoV (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome-related CoV (MERS-CoV) and the recently identified SARS-CoV2. Significantly, the SARS-CoV2 outbreak, declared a pandemic in early 2020, has wreaked devastation and imposed intense pressure on medical establishments world-wide in a short time period by spreading at a rapid pace, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is a compelling need to combat and contain the CoV infections. The current review addresses the unique features of the molecular virology of major Coronaviruses that may be tractable towards antiviral targeting and design of novel preventative and therapeutic intervention strategies. Plant-derived vaccines, in particular oral vaccines, afford safer, effectual and low-cost avenues to develop antivirals and fast response vaccines, requiring minimal infrastructure and trained personnel for vaccine administration in developing countries. This review article discusses recent developments in the generation of plant-based vaccines, therapeutic/drug molecules, monoclonal antibodies and phytochemicals to preclude and combat infections caused by SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Efficacious plant-derived antivirals could contribute significantly to combating emerging and re-emerging pathogenic CoV infections and help stem the tide of any future pandemics.
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Rebelo BA, Folgado A, Ferreira AC, Abranches R. Production of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and its Receptor Binding Domain in plant cell suspension cultures. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:995429. [PMID: 36340353 PMCID: PMC9634662 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.995429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2, has prompted the scientific community to rapidly develop efficient and specific diagnostics and therapeutics. A number of avenues have been explored, including the manufacture of COVID-related proteins to be used as reagents for diagnostics or treatment. The production of RBD and Spike proteins was previously achieved in eukaryotic cells, mainly mammalian cell cultures, while the production in microbial systems has been unsuccessful until now. Here we report the effective production of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in two plant model systems. We established transgenic tobacco BY-2 and Medicago truncatula A17 cell suspension cultures stably producing the full-length Spike and RBD recombinant proteins. For both proteins, various glycoforms were obtained, with higher yields in Medicago cultures than BY-2. This work highlights that RBD and Spike can be secreted into the culture medium, which will impact subsequent purification and downstream processing costs. Analysis of the culture media indicated the presence of the high molecular weight Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Although the production yields still need improvement to compete with mammalian systems, this is the first report showing that plant cell suspension cultures are able to produce the high molecular weight Spike protein. This finding strengthens the potential of plant cell cultures as production platforms for large complex proteins.
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12
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Uvarova EA, Belavin PA, Deineko EV. Design and assembly of plant-based COVID-19 candidate vaccines: reсent development and future prospects. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2022; 26:327-335. [PMID: 35795227 PMCID: PMC9177425 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-22-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
An outbreak of a new variant of the coronavirus infection, known as COVID-19, occurred at the end of 2019 in China, in the city of Wuhan. It was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This variant of the virus is characterized by a high degree of variability and, as the current situation with its spread across different regions of the globe shows, it can lead to a progressive spread of infection among the human population and become the cause of a pandemic. The world scientific community is making tremendous efforts to develop means of protection,prevention and treatment of this disease based on modern advances in molecular biology, immunology and
vaccinology. This review provides information on the current state of research in the field of vaccine development
against COVID-19 with an emphasis on the role of plants in solving this complex problem. Although plants have
long been used by mankind as sources of various medicinal substances, in a pandemic, plant expression systems
become attractive as biofactories or bioreactors for the production of artificially created protein molecules
that include protective antigens against viral infection. The design and creation of such artificial molecules
underlies the development of recombinant subunit vaccines aimed at a rapid response against the spread of
infections with a high degree of variability. The review presents the state of research covering a period of just
over two years, i. e. since the emergence of the new outbreak of coronavirus infection. The authors tried to
emphasize the importance of rapid response of research groups from various scientific fields towards the use
of existing developments to create means of protection against various pathogens. With two plant expression
systems – stable and transient – as examples, the development of work on the creation of recombinant subunit
vaccines against COVID-19 in various laboratories and commercial companies is shown. The authors emphasize
that plant expression systems have promise for the development of not only protective means under conditions
of rapid response (subunit vaccines), but also therapeutic agents in the form of monoclonal antibodies against
COVID-19 synthesized in plant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. A. Uvarova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - P. A. Belavin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - E. V. Deineko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Tomsk State University
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13
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Abstract
Coronaviruses have caused devastation in both human and animal populations, affecting both health and the economy. Amidst the emergence and re-emergence of coronaviruses, humans need to surmount the health and economic threat of coronaviruses through science and evidence-based approaches. One of these approaches is through biotechnology, particularly the heterologous production of biopharmaceutical proteins. This review article briefly describes the genome, general virion morphology, and key structural proteins of different coronaviruses affecting animals and humans. In addition, this review paper also presents the different systems in recombinant protein technology such as bacteria, yeasts, plants, mammalian cells, and insect/insect cells systems used to express key structural proteins in the development of countermeasures such as diagnostics, prophylaxis, and therapeutics in the challenging era of coronaviruses.
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14
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Plant-Derived Recombinant Vaccines against Zoonotic Viruses. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020156. [PMID: 35207444 PMCID: PMC8878793 DOI: 10.3390/life12020156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases cause serious illness with billions of cases, and millions of deaths. The most effective way to restrict the spread of zoonotic viruses among humans and animals and prevent disease is vaccination. Recombinant proteins produced in plants offer an alternative approach for the development of safe, effective, inexpensive candidate vaccines. Current strategies are focused on the production of highly immunogenic structural proteins, which mimic the organizations of the native virion but lack the viral genetic material. These include chimeric viral peptides, subunit virus proteins, and virus-like particles (VLPs). The latter, with their ability to self-assemble and thus resemble the form of virus particles, are gaining traction among plant-based candidate vaccines against many infectious diseases. In this review, we summarized the main zoonotic diseases and followed the progress in using plant expression systems for the production of recombinant proteins and VLPs used in the development of plant-based vaccines against zoonotic viruses.
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15
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Ortega-Berlanga B, Pniewski T. Plant-Based Vaccines in Combat against Coronavirus Diseases. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:138. [PMID: 35214597 PMCID: PMC8876659 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus (CoV) diseases, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have gained in importance worldwide, especially with the current COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Due to the huge global demand, various types of vaccines have been developed, such as more traditional attenuated or inactivated viruses, subunit and VLP-based vaccines, as well as novel DNA and RNA vaccines. Nonetheless, emerging new COVID-19 variants are necessitating continuous research on vaccines, including these produced in plants, either via stable expression in transgenic or transplastomic plants or transient expression using viral vectors or agroinfection. Plant systems provide low cost, high scalability, safety and capacity to produce multimeric or glycosylated proteins. To date, from among CoVs antigens, spike and capsid proteins have been produced in plants, mostly using transient expression systems, at the additional advantage of rapid production. Immunogenicity of plant-produced CoVs proteins was positively evaluated after injection of purified antigens. However, this review indicates that plant-produced CoVs proteins or their carrier-fused immunodominant epitopes can be potentially applied also as mucosal vaccines, either after purification to be administered to particular membranes (nasal, bronchus mucosa) associated with the respiratory system, or as oral vaccines obtained from partly processed plant tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benita Ortega-Berlanga
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 34, 60-479 Poznań, Poland;
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16
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In silico Design and Characterization of Multi-epitopes Vaccine for SARS-CoV2 from Its Spike Protein. Int J Pept Res Ther 2022; 28:37. [PMID: 35002585 PMCID: PMC8722413 DOI: 10.1007/s10989-021-10348-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
COVID 19 is a disease caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV2 originated in China most probably of Bat origin. Multiepitopes vaccine would be useful in eliminating SARS-CoV2 infections as asymptomatic patients are in large numbers. In response to this, we utilized bioinformatic tools to develop an efficient vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV2. The designed vaccine has effective BCR and TCR epitopes screened from the sequence of S-protein of SARS-CoV2. Predicted BCR and TCR epitopes found antigenic, non-toxic and probably non-allergen. Modeled and the refined tertiary structure predicted as valid for further use. Protein–Protein interaction prediction of TLR2/4 and designed vaccine indicates promising binding. The designed multiepitope vaccine has induced cell-mediated and humoral immunity along with increased interferon-gamma response. Macrophages and dendritic cells were also found to increase upon the vaccine exposure. In silico codon optimization and cloning in expression vector indicates that the vaccine can be efficiently expressed in E. coli. In conclusion, the predicted vaccine is a good antigen, probable no allergen, and has the potential to induce cellular and humoral immunity.
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17
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Chung DR. Responses against infectious disease pandemics: a narrative review on COVID-19. PRECISION AND FUTURE MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.23838/pfm.2021.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, the world is facing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. With this, an emerging infectious disease pandemic in the absence of effective antiviral agents and vaccines for a novel virus is no different from the 1918 influenza pandemic, which became a great disaster for humankind. We also experienced a global lockdown with a stringent implementation of social distancing, which is a first for mankind living in the present day, and has led to enormous economic damage and restrictions on individual freedom. The microorganism that will cause the next pandemic may be a highly fatal avian influenza virus, another coronavirus, or a completely different microorganism. This COVID-19 pandemic is an enormous lesson for humankind and is tantamount to a vaccine in preparation for the next pandemic. Important and urgent undertakings were given to each country in terms of complementing laws and regulations for a stronger and more resilient healthcare system, such as investment in research and development for new rapid diagnostic technologies, vaccines, new therapeutic agents, among others.
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18
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Murugan C, Ramamoorthy S, Kuppuswamy G, Murugan RK, Sivalingam Y, Sundaramurthy A. COVID-19: A review of newly formed viral clades, pathophysiology, therapeutic strategies and current vaccination tasks. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 193:1165-1200. [PMID: 34710479 PMCID: PMC8545698 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.10.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Today, the world population is facing an existential threat by an invisible enemy known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) or COVID-19. It is highly contagious and has infected a larger fraction of human population across the globe on various routes of transmission. The detailed knowledge of the SARS-CoV-2 structure and clinical aspects offers an important insight into the evolution of infection, disease progression and helps in executing the different therapies effectively. Herein, we have discussed in detail about the genome structure of SARS-CoV-2 and its role in the proteomic rational spread of different muted species and pathogenesis in infecting the host cells. The mechanisms behind the viral outbreak and its immune response, the availability of existing diagnostics techniques, the treatment efficacy of repurposed drugs and the emerging vaccine trials for the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak also have been highlighted. Furthermore, the possible antiviral effects of various herbal products and their extracted molecules in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication and cellular entry are also reported. Finally, we conclude our opinion on current challenges involved in the drug development, bulk production of drug/vaccines and their storage requirements, logistical procedures and limitations related to dosage trials for larger population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandran Murugan
- SRM Research Institute, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sharmiladevi Ramamoorthy
- Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Guruprasad Kuppuswamy
- Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar Murugan
- Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Yuvaraj Sivalingam
- Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anandhakumar Sundaramurthy
- SRM Research Institute, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu 603203, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
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19
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Lobato Gómez M, Huang X, Alvarez D, He W, Baysal C, Zhu C, Armario‐Najera V, Blanco Perera A, Cerda Bennasser P, Saba‐Mayoral A, Sobrino‐Mengual G, Vargheese A, Abranches R, Abreu IA, Balamurugan S, Bock R, Buyel J, da Cunha NB, Daniell H, Faller R, Folgado A, Gowtham I, Häkkinen ST, Kumar S, Ramalingam SK, Lacorte C, Lomonossoff GP, Luís IM, Ma JK, McDonald KA, Murad A, Nandi S, O’Keefe B, Oksman‐Caldentey K, Parthiban S, Paul MJ, Ponndorf D, Rech E, Rodrigues JCM, Ruf S, Schillberg S, Schwestka J, Shah PS, Singh R, Stoger E, Twyman RM, Varghese IP, Vianna GR, Webster G, Wilbers RHP, Capell T, Christou P. Contributions of the international plant science community to the fight against human infectious diseases - part 1: epidemic and pandemic diseases. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:1901-1920. [PMID: 34182608 PMCID: PMC8486245 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases, also known as transmissible or communicable diseases, are caused by pathogens or parasites that spread in communities by direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated materials, through droplets and aerosols, or via vectors such as insects. Such diseases cause ˜17% of all human deaths and their management and control places an immense burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Traditional approaches for the prevention and control of infectious diseases include vaccination programmes, hygiene measures and drugs that suppress the pathogen, treat the disease symptoms or attenuate aggressive reactions of the host immune system. The provision of vaccines and biologic drugs such as antibodies is hampered by the high cost and limited scalability of traditional manufacturing platforms based on microbial and animal cells, particularly in developing countries where infectious diseases are prevalent and poorly controlled. Molecular farming, which uses plants for protein expression, is a promising strategy to address the drawbacks of current manufacturing platforms. In this review article, we consider the potential of molecular farming to address healthcare demands for the most prevalent and important epidemic and pandemic diseases, focussing on recent outbreaks of high-mortality coronavirus infections and diseases that disproportionately affect the developing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lobato Gómez
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Derry Alvarez
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Wenshu He
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Can Baysal
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Changfu Zhu
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Victoria Armario‐Najera
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Amaya Blanco Perera
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Pedro Cerda Bennasser
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Andera Saba‐Mayoral
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | | | - Ashwin Vargheese
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Rita Abranches
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Isabel Alexandra Abreu
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Shanmugaraj Balamurugan
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityCoimbatoreIndia
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam‐GolmGermany
| | - Johannes.F. Buyel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEAachenGermany
- Institute for Molecular BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Nicolau B. da Cunha
- Centro de Análise Proteômicas e Bioquímicas de BrasíliaUniversidade Católica de BrasíliaBrasíliaBrazil
| | - Henry Daniell
- School of Dental MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Roland Faller
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - André Folgado
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Iyappan Gowtham
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityCoimbatoreIndia
| | - Suvi T. Häkkinen
- Industrial Biotechnology and Food SolutionsVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland LtdEspooFinland
| | - Shashi Kumar
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyNew DelhiIndia
| | - Sathish Kumar Ramalingam
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityCoimbatoreIndia
| | - Cristiano Lacorte
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in BiologyParque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | | | - Ines M. Luís
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
| | - Julian K.‐C. Ma
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Karen. A. McDonald
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Global HealthShare InitiativeUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Andre Murad
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in BiologyParque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Somen Nandi
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Global HealthShare InitiativeUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Barry O’Keefe
- Molecular Targets ProgramCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, and Natural Products BranchDevelopmental Therapeutics ProgramDivision of Cancer Treatment and DiagnosisNational Cancer Institute, NIHFrederickMDUSA
| | | | - Subramanian Parthiban
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityCoimbatoreIndia
| | - Mathew J. Paul
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Daniel Ponndorf
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António XavierUniversidade Nova de LisboaOeirasPortugal
- Department of Biological ChemistryJohn Innes CentreNorwichUK
| | - Elibio Rech
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in BiologyParque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Julio C. M. Rodrigues
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in BiologyParque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Stephanie Ruf
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam‐GolmGermany
| | - Stefan Schillberg
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEAachenGermany
- Institute for PhytopathologyJustus‐Liebig‐University GiessenGiessenGermany
| | - Jennifer Schwestka
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Priya S. Shah
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of California, DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Rahul Singh
- School of Dental MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Eva Stoger
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Inchakalody P. Varghese
- Plant Genetic Engineering LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologyBharathiar UniversityCoimbatoreIndia
| | - Giovanni R. Vianna
- Brazilian Agriculture Research CorporationEmbrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and National Institute of Science and Technology Synthetic in BiologyParque Estação BiológicaBrasiliaBrazil
| | - Gina Webster
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George’s University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Ruud H. P. Wilbers
- Laboratory of NematologyPlant Sciences GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Teresa Capell
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
| | - Paul Christou
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida‐Agrotecnio CERCA CenterLleidaSpain
- ICREACatalan Institute for Research and Advanced StudiesBarcelonaSpain
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20
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Maharjan PM, Choe S. Plant-Based COVID-19 Vaccines: Current Status, Design, and Development Strategies of Candidate Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:992. [PMID: 34579229 PMCID: PMC8473425 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9090992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in its second year has led to massive global human and economic losses. The high transmission rate and the emergence of diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants demand rapid and effective approaches to preventing the spread, diagnosing on time, and treating affected people. Several COVID-19 vaccines are being developed using different production systems, including plants, which promises the production of cheap, safe, stable, and effective vaccines. The potential of a plant-based system for rapid production at a commercial scale and for a quick response to an infectious disease outbreak has been demonstrated by the marketing of carrot-cell-produced taliglucerase alfa (Elelyso) for Gaucher disease and tobacco-produced monoclonal antibodies (ZMapp) for the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Currently, two plant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidates, coronavirus virus-like particle (CoVLP) and Kentucky Bioprocessing (KBP)-201, are in clinical trials, and many more are in the preclinical stage. Interim phase 2 clinical trial results have revealed the high safety and efficacy of the CoVLP vaccine, with 10 times more neutralizing antibody responses compared to those present in a convalescent patient's plasma. The clinical trial of the CoVLP vaccine could be concluded by the end of 2021, and the vaccine could be available for public immunization thereafter. This review encapsulates the efforts made in plant-based COVID-19 vaccine development, the strategies and technologies implemented, and the progress accomplished in clinical trials and preclinical studies so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puna Maya Maharjan
- G+FLAS Life Sciences, 123 Uiryodanji-gil, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28161, Korea;
| | - Sunghwa Choe
- G+FLAS Life Sciences, 38 Nakseongdae-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08790, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
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21
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Shanmugaraj B, Siriwattananon K, Malla A, Phoolcharoen W. Potential for Developing Plant-Derived Candidate Vaccines and Biologics against Emerging Coronavirus Infections. Pathogens 2021; 10:1051. [PMID: 34451516 PMCID: PMC8400130 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging human coronavirus infections in the 21st century remain a major public health crisis causing worldwide impact and challenging the global health care system. The virus is circulating in several zoonotic hosts and continuously evolving, causing occasional outbreaks due to spill-over events occurring between animals and humans. Hence, the development of effective vaccines or therapeutic interventions is the current global priority in order to reduce disease severity, frequent outbreaks, and to prevent future infections. Vaccine development for newly emerging pathogens takes a long time, which hinders rapid immunization programs. The concept of plant-based pharmaceuticals can be readily applied to meet the recombinant protein demand by means of transient expression. Plants are evolved as an expression platform, and they bring a combination of unique interests in terms of rapid scalability, flexibility, and economy for industrial-scale production of effective vaccines, diagnostic reagents, and other biopharmaceuticals. Plants offer safe biologics to fulfill emergency demands, especially during pandemic situations or outbreaks caused by emerging strains. This review highlights the features of a plant expression platform for producing recombinant biopharmaceuticals to combat coronavirus infections with emphasis on COVID-19 vaccine and biologics development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Ashwini Malla
- Baiya Phytopharm Co., Ltd., Bangkok 10250, Thailand; (B.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Baiya Phytopharm Co., Ltd., Bangkok 10250, Thailand; (B.S.); (A.M.)
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
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22
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Mamedov T, Yuksel D, Ilgın M, Gurbuzaslan I, Gulec B, Yetiskin H, Uygut MA, Islam Pavel ST, Ozdarendeli A, Mammadova G, Say D, Hasanova G. Plant-Produced Glycosylated and In Vivo Deglycosylated Receptor Binding Domain Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Induce Potent Neutralizing Responses in Mice. Viruses 2021; 13:1595. [PMID: 34452461 PMCID: PMC8402646 DOI: 10.3390/v13081595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly spread to more than 222 countries and has put global public health at high risk. The world urgently needs cost-effective and safe SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, antiviral, and therapeutic drugs to control it. In this study, we engineered the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and produced it in the plant Nicotiana benthamiana in a glycosylated and deglycosylated form. Expression levels of both glycosylated (gRBD) and deglycosylated (dRBD) RBD were greater than 45 mg/kg fresh weight. The purification yields were 22 mg of pure protein/kg of plant biomass for gRBD and 20 mg for dRBD, which would be sufficient for commercialization of these vaccine candidates. The purified plant-produced RBD protein was recognized by an S protein-specific monoclonal antibody, demonstrating specific reactivity of the antibody to the plant-produced RBD proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 RBD showed specific binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 receptor. In mice, the plant-produced RBD antigens elicited high titers of antibodies with a potent virus-neutralizing activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that mice immunized with plant-produced deglycosylated RBD form elicited high titer of RBD-specific antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, obtained data support that plant-produced glycosylated and in vivo deglycosylated RBD antigens, developed in this study, are promising vaccine candidates for the prevention of COVID-19.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Glycosylation
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neutralization Tests
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains
- Protein Engineering
- Protein Stability
- Receptors, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarlan Mamedov
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Damla Yuksel
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Merve Ilgın
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Irem Gurbuzaslan
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Burcu Gulec
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Hazel Yetiskin
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Ali Uygut
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
| | - Shaikh Terkis Islam Pavel
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Aykut Ozdarendeli
- Department of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey; (H.Y.); (M.A.U.); (S.T.I.P.); (A.O.)
- Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Gulshan Mammadova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Deniz Say
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
| | - Gulnara Hasanova
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey; (D.Y.); (M.I.); (I.G.); (B.G.); (G.M.); (D.S.); (G.H.)
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Abiri R, Abdul-Hamid H, Sytar O, Abiri R, Bezerra de Almeida E, Sharma SK, Bulgakov VP, Arroo RRJ, Malik S. A Brief Overview of Potential Treatments for Viral Diseases Using Natural Plant Compounds: The Case of SARS-Cov. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26133868. [PMID: 34202844 PMCID: PMC8270261 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26133868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the more general global increase in viral diseases, has led researchers to look to the plant kingdom as a potential source for antiviral compounds. Since ancient times, herbal medicines have been extensively applied in the treatment and prevention of various infectious diseases in different traditional systems. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential antiviral activity of plant compounds as effective and reliable agents against viral infections, especially by viruses from the coronavirus group. Various antiviral mechanisms shown by crude plant extracts and plant-derived bioactive compounds are discussed. The understanding of the action mechanisms of complex plant extract and isolated plant-derived compounds will help pave the way towards the combat of this life-threatening disease. Further, molecular docking studies, in silico analyses of extracted compounds, and future prospects are included. The in vitro production of antiviral chemical compounds from plants using molecular pharming is also considered. Notably, hairy root cultures represent a promising and sustainable way to obtain a range of biologically active compounds that may be applied in the development of novel antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rambod Abiri
- Department of Forestry Science and Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia; or
| | - Hazandy Abdul-Hamid
- Department of Forestry Science and Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia; or
- Laboratory of Bioresource Management, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (H.A.-H.); (V.P.B.); or (S.M.)
| | - Oksana Sytar
- Educational and Scientific Center “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Department of Plant Biology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska 60, 01033 Kyiv, Ukraine;
- Department of Plant Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture Nitra, A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Ramin Abiri
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6718773654, Iran;
- Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6718773654, Iran
| | - Eduardo Bezerra de Almeida
- Biological and Health Sciences Centre, Laboratory of Botanical Studies, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil;
| | - Surender K. Sharma
- Department of Physics, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151401, India;
| | - Victor P. Bulgakov
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity (Institute of Biology and Soil Science), Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Stoletija Str., 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
- Correspondence: (H.A.-H.); (V.P.B.); or (S.M.)
| | - Randolph R. J. Arroo
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK;
| | - Sonia Malik
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Biological & Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures (LBLGC), University of Orléans, 1 Rue de Chartres-BP 6759, 45067 Orleans, France
- Correspondence: (H.A.-H.); (V.P.B.); or (S.M.)
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24
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Kumar M, Kumari N, Thakur N, Bhatia SK, Saratale GD, Ghodake G, Mistry BM, Alavilli H, Kishor DS, Du X, Chung SM. A Comprehensive Overview on the Production of Vaccines in Plant-Based Expression Systems and the Scope of Plant Biotechnology to Combat against SARS-CoV-2 Virus Pandemics. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1213. [PMID: 34203729 PMCID: PMC8232254 DOI: 10.3390/plants10061213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Many pathogenic viral pandemics have caused threats to global health; the COVID-19 pandemic is the latest. Its transmission is growing exponentially all around the globe, putting constraints on the health system worldwide. A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causes this pandemic. Many candidate vaccines are available at this time for COVID-19, and there is a massive international race underway to procure as many vaccines as possible for each country. However, due to heavy global demand, there are strains in global vaccine production. The use of a plant biotechnology-based expression system for vaccine production also represents one part of this international effort, which is to develop plant-based heterologous expression systems, virus-like particles (VLPs)-vaccines, antiviral drugs, and a rapid supply of antigen-antibodies for detecting kits and plant origin bioactive compounds that boost the immunity and provide tolerance to fight against the virus infection. This review will look at the plant biotechnology platform that can provide the best fight against this global pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Kumar
- Department of Life Science, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Seoul 10326, Korea; (M.K.); (D.S.K.); (X.D.)
| | - Nisha Kumari
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | - Nishant Thakur
- Department of Hospital Pathology, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07345, Korea;
| | - Shashi Kant Bhatia
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Ganesh Dattatraya Saratale
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Seoul 10326, Korea; (G.D.S.); (B.M.M.)
| | - Gajanan Ghodake
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, Seoul 10326, Korea;
| | - Bhupendra M. Mistry
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Seoul 10326, Korea; (G.D.S.); (B.M.M.)
| | - Hemasundar Alavilli
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - D. S. Kishor
- Department of Life Science, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Seoul 10326, Korea; (M.K.); (D.S.K.); (X.D.)
| | - Xueshi Du
- Department of Life Science, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Seoul 10326, Korea; (M.K.); (D.S.K.); (X.D.)
| | - Sang-Min Chung
- Department of Life Science, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Seoul 10326, Korea; (M.K.); (D.S.K.); (X.D.)
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25
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Siriwattananon K, Manopwisedjaroen S, Shanmugaraj B, Rattanapisit K, Phumiamorn S, Sapsutthipas S, Trisiriwanich S, Prompetchara E, Ketloy C, Buranapraditkun S, Wijagkanalan W, Tharakhet K, Kaewpang P, Leetanasaksakul K, Kemthong T, Suttisan N, Malaivijitnond S, Ruxrungtham K, Thitithanyanont A, Phoolcharoen W. Plant-Produced Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Elicits Potent Neutralizing Responses in Mice and Non-human Primates. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:682953. [PMID: 34054909 PMCID: PMC8158422 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.682953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected global public health and economy. Despite the substantial efforts, only few vaccines are currently approved and some are in the different stages of clinical trials. As the disease rapidly spreads, an affordable and effective vaccine is urgently needed. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity of plant-produced receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 in order to use as a subunit vaccine. In this regard, RBD of SARS-CoV-2 was fused with Fc fragment of human IgG1 and transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana by agroinfiltration. The plant-produced RBD-Fc fusion protein was purified from the crude extract by using protein A affinity column chromatography. Two intramuscular administration of plant-produced RBD-Fc protein formulated with alum as an adjuvant have elicited high neutralization titers in immunized mice and cynomolgus monkeys. Further it has induced a mixed Th1/Th2 immune responses and vaccine-specific T-lymphocyte responses which was confirmed by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Altogether, our results demonstrated that the plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD has the potential to be used as an effective vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the immunogenicity of plant-produced SARS-CoV-2 RBD protein in mice and non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Research Unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Supaporn Phumiamorn
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Institute of Biological Products, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Sompong Sapsutthipas
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Institute of Biological Products, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Sakalin Trisiriwanich
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Institute of Biological Products, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Eakachai Prompetchara
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chutitorn Ketloy
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supranee Buranapraditkun
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Kittipan Tharakhet
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Papatsara Kaewpang
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kantinan Leetanasaksakul
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Taratorn Kemthong
- National Primate Research Center of Thailand-Chulalongkorn University, Saraburi, Thailand
| | - Nutchanat Suttisan
- National Primate Research Center of Thailand-Chulalongkorn University, Saraburi, Thailand
| | | | - Kiat Ruxrungtham
- Faculty of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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26
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Rosales-Mendoza S, Cervantes-Rincón T, Romero-Maldonado A, Monreal-Escalante E, Nieto-Gómez R. Transgenic plants expressing a Clostridium difficile spore antigen as an approach to develop low-cost oral vaccines. Biotechnol Prog 2021; 37:e3141. [PMID: 33666366 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal infections caused by Clostridium difficile lead to significant impact in terms of morbidity and mortality, causing from mild symptoms, such as a low-grade fever, watery stools, and minor abdominal cramping as well as more severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, pseudomembrane colitis, and toxic megacolon. Vaccination is a viable approach to fight against C. difficile and several efforts in this direction are ongoing. Plants are promising vaccine biofactories offering low cost, enhanced safety, and allow for the formulation of oral vaccines. Herein, the CdeM protein, which is a spore antigen associated with immunoprotection against C. difficile, was selected to begin the development of plant-based vaccine candidates. The vaccine antigen is based in a fusion protein (LTB-CdeM), carrying the CdeM antigen, fused to the carboxi-terminus of the B subunit of the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) as a mucosal immunogenic carrier. LTB-CdeM was produced in plants using a synthetic optimized gene according codon usage and mRNA stability criteria. The obtained transformed tobacco lines produced the LTB-CdeM antigen in the range of 52-90 μg/g dry weight leaf tissues. The antigenicity of the plant-made LTB-CdeM antigen was evidenced by GM1-ELISA and immunogenicity assessment performed in test mice revealed that the LTB-CdeM antigen is orally immunogenic inducing humoral responses against CdeM epitopes. This report constitutes the first step in the development of plant-based vaccines against C. difficile infection.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial/blood
- Antigens, Bacterial/genetics
- Antigens, Bacterial/metabolism
- Clostridioides difficile/genetics
- Enterotoxins/genetics
- Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Molecular Farming
- Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics
- Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism
- Spores, Bacterial/genetics
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vaccines, Edible/genetics
- Vaccines, Edible/immunology
- Vaccines, Edible/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Tomás Cervantes-Rincón
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Andrea Romero-Maldonado
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Monreal-Escalante
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Nieto-Gómez
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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27
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Makatsa MS, Tincho MB, Wendoh JM, Ismail SD, Nesamari R, Pera F, de Beer S, David A, Jugwanth S, Gededzha MP, Mampeule N, Sanne I, Stevens W, Scott L, Blackburn J, Mayne ES, Keeton RS, Burgers WA. SARS-CoV-2 Antigens Expressed in Plants Detect Antibody Responses in COVID-19 Patients. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:589940. [PMID: 33868324 PMCID: PMC8044419 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.589940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has swept the world and poses a significant global threat to lives and livelihoods, with 115 million confirmed cases and at least 2.5 million deaths from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the first year of the pandemic. Developing tools to measure seroprevalence and understand protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is a priority. We aimed to develop a serological assay using plant-derived recombinant viral proteins, which represent important tools in less-resourced settings. Methods: We established an indirect ELISA using the S1 and receptor-binding domain (RBD) portions of the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2, expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. We measured antibody responses in sera from South African patients (n = 77) who had tested positive by PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Samples were taken a median of 6 weeks after the diagnosis, and the majority of participants had mild and moderate COVID-19 disease. In addition, we tested the reactivity of pre-pandemic plasma (n = 58) and compared the performance of our in-house ELISA with a commercial assay. We also determined whether our assay could detect SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgA in saliva. Results: We demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulins are readily detectable using recombinant plant-derived viral proteins, in patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. Reactivity to S1 and RBD was detected in 51 (66%) and 48 (62%) of participants, respectively. Notably, we detected 100% of samples identified as having S1-specific antibodies by a validated, high sensitivity commercial ELISA, and optical density (OD) values were strongly and significantly correlated between the two assays. For the pre-pandemic plasma, 1/58 (1.7%) of samples were positive, indicating a high specificity for SARS-CoV-2 in our ELISA. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG correlated significantly with IgA and IgM responses. Endpoint titers of S1- and RBD-specific immunoglobulins ranged from 1:50 to 1:3,200. S1-specific IgG and IgA were found in saliva samples from convalescent volunteers. Conclusion: We demonstrate that recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins produced in plants enable robust detection of SARS-CoV-2 humoral responses. This assay can be used for seroepidemiological studies and to measure the strength and durability of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in infected patients in our setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohau S. Makatsa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marius B. Tincho
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jerome M. Wendoh
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sherazaan D. Ismail
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rofhiwa Nesamari
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Anura David
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sarika Jugwanth
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Maemu P. Gededzha
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nakampe Mampeule
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ian Sanne
- Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Wendy Stevens
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lesley Scott
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jonathan Blackburn
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elizabeth S. Mayne
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Roanne S. Keeton
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wendy A. Burgers
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Makatsa MS, Tincho MB, Wendoh JM, Ismail SD, Nesamari R, Pera F, de Beer S, David A, Jugwanth S, Gededzha MP, Mampeule N, Sanne I, Stevens W, Scott L, Blackburn J, Mayne ES, Keeton RS, Burgers WA. SARS-CoV-2 Antigens Expressed in Plants Detect Antibody Responses in COVID-19 Patients. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:589940. [PMID: 33868324 DOI: 10.1101/2020.08.04.20167940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has swept the world and poses a significant global threat to lives and livelihoods, with 115 million confirmed cases and at least 2.5 million deaths from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the first year of the pandemic. Developing tools to measure seroprevalence and understand protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is a priority. We aimed to develop a serological assay using plant-derived recombinant viral proteins, which represent important tools in less-resourced settings. Methods: We established an indirect ELISA using the S1 and receptor-binding domain (RBD) portions of the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2, expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. We measured antibody responses in sera from South African patients (n = 77) who had tested positive by PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Samples were taken a median of 6 weeks after the diagnosis, and the majority of participants had mild and moderate COVID-19 disease. In addition, we tested the reactivity of pre-pandemic plasma (n = 58) and compared the performance of our in-house ELISA with a commercial assay. We also determined whether our assay could detect SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgA in saliva. Results: We demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulins are readily detectable using recombinant plant-derived viral proteins, in patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. Reactivity to S1 and RBD was detected in 51 (66%) and 48 (62%) of participants, respectively. Notably, we detected 100% of samples identified as having S1-specific antibodies by a validated, high sensitivity commercial ELISA, and optical density (OD) values were strongly and significantly correlated between the two assays. For the pre-pandemic plasma, 1/58 (1.7%) of samples were positive, indicating a high specificity for SARS-CoV-2 in our ELISA. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG correlated significantly with IgA and IgM responses. Endpoint titers of S1- and RBD-specific immunoglobulins ranged from 1:50 to 1:3,200. S1-specific IgG and IgA were found in saliva samples from convalescent volunteers. Conclusion: We demonstrate that recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins produced in plants enable robust detection of SARS-CoV-2 humoral responses. This assay can be used for seroepidemiological studies and to measure the strength and durability of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in infected patients in our setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohau S Makatsa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marius B Tincho
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jerome M Wendoh
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sherazaan D Ismail
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rofhiwa Nesamari
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Anura David
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sarika Jugwanth
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Maemu P Gededzha
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nakampe Mampeule
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ian Sanne
- Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Wendy Stevens
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lesley Scott
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jonathan Blackburn
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elizabeth S Mayne
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Roanne S Keeton
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wendy A Burgers
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Sahoo A, Mandal AK, Dwivedi K, Kumar V. A cross talk between the immunization and edible vaccine: Current challenges and future prospects. Life Sci 2020; 261:118343. [PMID: 32858038 PMCID: PMC7449231 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION It is well known that immune system is highly specific to protect the body against various environmental pathogens. The concept of conventional vaccination has overcome the pandemic situation of several infectious diseases outbreak. AREA COVERED The recent idea of immunization through oral route (edible vaccine) is vital alternatives over conventional vaccines. Edible vaccines are composed of antigenic protein introduced into the plant cells which induce these altered plants to produce the encoded protein. Edible vaccine has no way of forming infection and safety is assured as it only composed of antigenic protein and is devoid of pathogenic genes. Edible vaccines have significant role in stimulating mucosal immunity as they come in contact with digestive tract lining. They are safe, cost-effective, easy-to-administer and have reduced manufacturing cost hence have a dramatic impact on health care in developing countries. EXPERT OPINION The edible vaccine might be the solution for the potential hazard associated with the parenteral vaccines. In this review we discuss the detailed study of pros, cons, mechanism of immune stimulation, various outbreaks that might be controlled by edible vaccines with the possible future research and applied application of edible vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Sahoo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Shalom Institute of Health and Allied Sciences, Sam Higgbottom University of Agriculture Technology & Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211007, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Mandal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Shalom Institute of Health and Allied Sciences, Sam Higgbottom University of Agriculture Technology & Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211007, India
| | - Khusbu Dwivedi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shambhunath Institute of Pharmacy Jhalwa, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211015, India
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Natural Product Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Shalom Institute of Health and Allied Sciences, Sam Higgbottom University of Agriculture Technology & Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211007, India.
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Tregoning JS, Brown ES, Cheeseman HM, Flight KE, Higham SL, Lemm N, Pierce BF, Stirling DC, Wang Z, Pollock KM. Vaccines for COVID-19. Clin Exp Immunol 2020; 202:162-192. [PMID: 32935331 PMCID: PMC7597597 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the emergence of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the end of 2019, there has been an explosion of vaccine development. By 24 September 2020, a staggering number of vaccines (more than 200) had started preclinical development, of which 43 had entered clinical trials, including some approaches that have not previously been licensed for human vaccines. Vaccines have been widely considered as part of the exit strategy to enable the return to previous patterns of working, schooling and socializing. Importantly, to effectively control the COVID-19 pandemic, production needs to be scaled-up from a small number of preclinical doses to enough filled vials to immunize the world's population, which requires close engagement with manufacturers and regulators. It will require a global effort to control the virus, necessitating equitable access for all countries to effective vaccines. This review explores the immune responses required to protect against SARS-CoV-2 and the potential for vaccine-induced immunopathology. We describe the profile of the different platforms and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. The review also addresses the critical steps between promising preclinical leads and manufacturing at scale. The issues faced during this pandemic and the platforms being developed to address it will be invaluable for future outbreak control. Nine months after the outbreak began we are at a point where preclinical and early clinical data are being generated for the vaccines; an overview of this important area will help our understanding of the next phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. S. Tregoning
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - E. S. Brown
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - H. M. Cheeseman
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - K. E. Flight
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - S. L. Higham
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - N.‐M. Lemm
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - B. F. Pierce
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - D. C. Stirling
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Z. Wang
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - K. M. Pollock
- Department of Infectious DiseaseSt Mary’s CampusImperial College LondonLondonUK
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31
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Lee YR, Lim CY, Lim S, Park SR, Hong JP, Kim J, Lee HE, Ko K, Kim DS. Expression of Colorectal Cancer Antigenic Protein Fused to IgM Fc in Chinese Cabbage ( Brassica rapa). PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9111466. [PMID: 33143243 PMCID: PMC7693566 DOI: 10.3390/plants9111466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a tumor-associated antigen and a potential target for tumor vaccine. The EpCAM is a cell-surface glycoprotein highly expressed in colorectal carcinomas. The objective of the present study is to develop an edible vaccine system through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa). For the transformation, two plant expression vectors containing genes encoding for the EpCAM recombinant protein along with the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and Joining (J)-chain tagged with the KDEL endoplasmic reticulum retention motif (J-chain K) were constructed. The vectors were successfully transformed and expressed in the Chinese cabbage individually using Agrobacterium. The transgenic Chinese cabbages were screened using genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in T0 transgenic plant lines generated from both transformants. Similarly, the immunoblot analysis revealed the expression of recombinant proteins in the transformants. Further, the T1 transgenic plants were generated by selfing the transgenic plants (T0) carrying EpCAM-IgM Fc and J-chain K proteins, respectively. Subsequently, the T1 plants generated from EpCAM-IgM Fc and J-chain K transformants were crossed to generate F1 plants carrying both transgenes. The presence of both transgenes was validated using PCR in the F1 plants. In addition, the expression of Chinese cabbage-derived EpCAM-IgM Fc × J-chain K was evaluated using immunoblot and ELISA analyses in the F1 plants. The outcomes of the present study can be utilized for the development of a potential anti-cancer vaccine candidate using Chinese cabbage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Rin Lee
- Vegetable Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea; (Y.-R.L.); (C.-Y.L.); (J.-P.H.); (J.K.); (H.-E.L.)
| | - Chae-Yeon Lim
- Vegetable Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea; (Y.-R.L.); (C.-Y.L.); (J.-P.H.); (J.K.); (H.-E.L.)
| | - Sohee Lim
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea; (S.L.); (S.R.P.)
| | - Se Ra Park
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea; (S.L.); (S.R.P.)
| | - Jong-Pil Hong
- Vegetable Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea; (Y.-R.L.); (C.-Y.L.); (J.-P.H.); (J.K.); (H.-E.L.)
| | - Jinhee Kim
- Vegetable Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea; (Y.-R.L.); (C.-Y.L.); (J.-P.H.); (J.K.); (H.-E.L.)
| | - Hye-Eun Lee
- Vegetable Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea; (Y.-R.L.); (C.-Y.L.); (J.-P.H.); (J.K.); (H.-E.L.)
| | - Kisung Ko
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea; (S.L.); (S.R.P.)
- Correspondence: (K.K.); (D.-S.K.); Tel.: +82-63-238-6670 (K.K.); +82-63-238-6670 (D.-S.K.)
| | - Do-Sun Kim
- Vegetable Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea; (Y.-R.L.); (C.-Y.L.); (J.-P.H.); (J.K.); (H.-E.L.)
- Correspondence: (K.K.); (D.-S.K.); Tel.: +82-63-238-6670 (K.K.); +82-63-238-6670 (D.-S.K.)
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Wang Y, Grunewald M, Perlman S. Coronaviruses: An Updated Overview of Their Replication and Pathogenesis. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2203:1-29. [PMID: 32833200 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0900-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs), enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses, are characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface, an unusually large RNA genome, and a unique replication strategy. CoVs cause a variety of diseases in mammals and birds ranging from enteritis in cows and pigs, and upper respiratory tract and kidney disease in chickens to lethal human respiratory infections. Most recently, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, is the cause of a catastrophic pandemic, COVID-19, with more than 8 million infections diagnosed worldwide by mid-June 2020. Here we provide a brief introduction to CoVs discussing their replication, pathogenicity, and current prevention and treatment strategies. We will also discuss the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which are relevant for understanding COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Matthew Grunewald
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Stanley Perlman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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Prasad A, Muthamilarasan M, Prasad M. Synergistic antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 by plant-based molecules. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2020; 39:1109-1114. [PMID: 32561979 PMCID: PMC7303273 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-020-02560-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The exponential spread of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emphasizes the immediate need for effective antiviral drugs and vaccines that could control and prevent the spread of this pandemic. Several new and repurposed drugs are being tested for their effectiveness in the treatment regime, and the development of vaccines is underway. The availability of genome sequence information of the virus and the identification of potential targets to neutralize and eradicate the infection have enabled the search for novel as well as existing molecules to perform the desired function. However, the application of plants in the development of potential biomolecules, such as antibiotics and vaccines, is limited. Traditional medicines involving plant-based formulations have proven successful in boosting immunity and providing tolerance to virus infections. Still, in-depth studies are not available to explore the bioactive compounds of plant origin and their mechanism of action. Given this, the current opinion article conveys our thoughts and perspectives on the promising usage of plant-based biomolecules in circumventing SARS-CoV-2, and how these molecules can work synergistically with other potential drugs for treating SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Prasad
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Mehanathan Muthamilarasan
- Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Manoj Prasad
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India.
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Lundstrom K. Coronavirus Pandemic-Therapy and Vaccines. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E109. [PMID: 32375268 PMCID: PMC7277397 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8050109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The current coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, has raised significant social, psychological and economic concerns in addition to direct medical issues. The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 to almost every country on the globe and the failure to contain the infections have contributed to fear and panic worldwide. The lack of available and efficient antiviral drugs or vaccines has further worsened the situation. For these reasons, it cannot be overstated that an accelerated effort for the development of novel drugs and vaccines is needed. In this context, novel approaches in both gene therapy and vaccine development are essential. Previous experience from SARS- and MERS-coronavirus vaccine and drug development projects have targeted glycoprotein epitopes, monoclonal antibodies, angiotensin receptor blockers and gene silencing technologies, which may be useful for COVID-19 too. Moreover, existing antivirals used for other types of viral infections have been considered as urgent action is necessary. This review aims at providing a background of coronavirus genetics and biology, examples of therapeutic and vaccine strategies taken and potential innovative novel approaches in progress.
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Rosales-Mendoza S, Márquez-Escobar VA, González-Ortega O, Nieto-Gómez R, Arévalo-Villalobos JI. What Does Plant-Based Vaccine Technology Offer to the Fight against COVID-19? Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E183. [PMID: 32295153 PMCID: PMC7349371 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new pathogenic viral strains is a constant threat to global health, with the new coronavirus strain COVID-19 as the latest example. COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has quickly spread around the globe. This pandemic demands rapid development of drugs and vaccines. Plant-based vaccines are a technology with proven viability, which have led to promising results for candidates evaluated at the clinical level, meaning this technology could contribute towards the fight against COVID-19. Herein, a perspective in how plant-based vaccines can be developed against COVID-19 is presented. Injectable vaccines could be generated by using transient expression systems, which offer the highest protein yields and are already adopted at the industrial level to produce VLPs-vaccines and other biopharmaceuticals under GMPC-processes. Stably-transformed plants are another option, but this approach requires more time for the development of antigen-producing lines. Nonetheless, this approach offers the possibility of developing oral vaccines in which the plant cell could act as the antigen delivery agent. Therefore, this is the most attractive approach in terms of cost, easy delivery, and mucosal immunity induction. The development of multiepitope, rationally-designed vaccines is also discussed regarding the experience gained in expression of chimeric immunogenic proteins in plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (V.A.M.-E.); (O.G.-O.); (R.N.-G.); (J.I.A.-V.)
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2ª Sección, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
| | - Verónica A. Márquez-Escobar
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (V.A.M.-E.); (O.G.-O.); (R.N.-G.); (J.I.A.-V.)
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2ª Sección, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
| | - Omar González-Ortega
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (V.A.M.-E.); (O.G.-O.); (R.N.-G.); (J.I.A.-V.)
| | - Ricardo Nieto-Gómez
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (V.A.M.-E.); (O.G.-O.); (R.N.-G.); (J.I.A.-V.)
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2ª Sección, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
| | - Jaime I. Arévalo-Villalobos
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (V.A.M.-E.); (O.G.-O.); (R.N.-G.); (J.I.A.-V.)
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2ª Sección, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
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Criscuolo E, Caputo V, Diotti RA, Sautto GA, Kirchenbaum GA, Clementi N. Alternative Methods of Vaccine Delivery: An Overview of Edible and Intradermal Vaccines. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:8303648. [PMID: 30949518 PMCID: PMC6425294 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8303648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are recognized worldwide as one of the most important tools for combating infectious diseases. Despite the tremendous value conferred by currently available vaccines toward public health, the implementation of additional vaccine platforms is also of key importance. In fact, currently available vaccines possess shortcomings, such as inefficient triggering of a cell-mediated immune response and the lack of protective mucosal immunity. In this regard, recent work has been focused on vaccine delivery systems, as an alternative to injectable vaccines, to increase antigen stability and improve overall immunogenicity. In particular, novel strategies based on edible or intradermal vaccine formulations have been demonstrated to trigger both a systemic and mucosal immune response. These novel vaccination delivery systems offer several advantages over the injectable preparations including self-administration, reduced cost, stability, and elimination of a cold chain. In this review, the latest findings and accomplishments regarding edible and intradermal vaccines are described in the context of the system used for immunogen expression, their molecular features and capacity to induce a protective systemic and mucosal response.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Criscuolo
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, “Vita-Salute San Raffaele” University, Milan, Italy
| | - V. Caputo
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, “Vita-Salute San Raffaele” University, Milan, Italy
- Pomona Ricerca S.r.l., Turin, Italy
| | - R. A. Diotti
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, “Vita-Salute San Raffaele” University, Milan, Italy
- Pomona Ricerca S.r.l., Turin, Italy
| | - G. A. Sautto
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - N. Clementi
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, “Vita-Salute San Raffaele” University, Milan, Italy
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Davod J, Fatemeh DN, Honari H, Hosseini R. Constructing and transient expression of a gene cassette containing edible vaccine elements and shigellosis, anthrax and cholera recombinant antigens in tomato. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 45:2237-2246. [PMID: 30244396 PMCID: PMC7088786 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4385-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Shigella dysenteriae causing shigellosis is one of the diseases that threaten the health of human society in the developing countries. In Shigella, IpaD gene is one of the key pathogenic genes causing strong mucosal immune system reactions. Anthrax disease is caused by Bacillus anthracis. PA protective antigen is one of the subunits in anthrax toxin complex responsible for the transfer of other subunits into the cytosol of host cells. The 20 kDa subunit of PA (PA20) has the property of immunogenicity. CTxB or B subunit of Vibrio cholerae toxin (CT) is a non-toxic protein and has the function to transfer toxic subunit into cytosol of the host cells by binding to GM1 receptor. The aim of this study was to fuse PA20, ipaD and CTxB and transform tomato plants by this cassette in order to produce an oral vaccine against shigellosis, anthrax and cholera. CTxB was used for these two antigens as an immune adjuvant. IpaD and PA20 genes were cloned in pBI121 containing the CTxB gene and Extensin signal peptide. In order to evaluate the transient expression of Shigellosis, Anthrax and Cholera antigens, agro-infiltrated tomato tissues were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the gene cassette. Cloning was confirmed by PCR, enzymatic digestion and sequencing techniques. Expression of the antigens was examined by SDS-PAGE, dot blot and ELISA. Maturate green fruits demonstrated the highest expression of the recombinant proteins. The first phase of this study was carried out for cloning and expressing of CtxB, ipaD and PA20 antigens in tomato. In the next phase, we aim to analyze the immunogenicity of this vaccine candidate in laboratory animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jafari Davod
- Medical Biotechnology Department, School of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran
| | - Dehghan Nayeri Fatemeh
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran
| | - Hossein Honari
- Faculty of Basic Science, Imam Hussein University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Hosseini
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran
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Leite ML, Sampaio KB, Costa FF, Franco OL, Dias SC, Cunha NB. Molecular farming of antimicrobial peptides: available platforms and strategies for improving protein biosynthesis using modified virus vectors. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2018; 91:e20180124. [PMID: 30365717 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201820180124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The constant demand for new antibiotic drugs has driven efforts by the scientific community to prospect for peptides with a broad spectrum of action. In this context, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have acquired great scientific importance in recent years due to their ability to possess antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity. In the last two decades, plants have attracted the interest of the scientific community and industry as regards their potential as biofactories of heterologous proteins. One of the most promising approaches is the use of viral vectors to maximize the transient expression of drugs in the leaves of the plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Recently, the MagnifectionTM expression system was launched. This sophisticated commercial platform allows the assembly of the viral particle in leaf cells and the systemic spread of heterologous protein biosynthesis in green tissues caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens "gene delivery method". The system also presents increased gene expression levels mediated by potent viral expression machinery. These characteristics allow the mass recovery of heterologous proteins in the leaves of N. benthamiana in 8 to 10 days. This system was highly efficient for the synthesis of different classes of pharmacological proteins and contains enormous potential for the rapid and abundant biosynthesis of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel L Leite
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Kamila B Sampaio
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Fabrício F Costa
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
- Cancer Biology and Epigenomics Program, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, 60611, Chicago IL, USA
- Genomic Enterprise, 2405 N. Sheffield Av., 14088, 60614, Chicago, IL, USA
- MATTER Chicago, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, 12th Floor, 60654, Chicago, IL, USA
- The Founder Institute, 3337 El Camino Real, 94306, Palo Alto, CA USA
| | - Octávio L Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000, Jardim Seminário, 79117-010 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Simoni C Dias
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Nicolau B Cunha
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília/UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
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Lee MF, Chiang CH, Li YL, Wang NM, Song PP, Lin SJ, Chen YH. Oral edible plant vaccine containing hypoallergen of American cockroach major allergen Per a 2 prevents roach-allergic asthma in a murine model. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201281. [PMID: 30059516 PMCID: PMC6066233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) are an important indoor allergen source and a major risk factor for exacerbations and poor control of asthma. We previously reported that allergen components from American cockroaches exhibit varying levels of pathogenicity. Sensitization to major American cockroach allergen, Per a 2, correlated with more severe clinical phenotypes among patients with allergic airway diseases. Materials and methods In this study, we examined whether oral plant vaccine-encoding full-length Per a 2 clone-996 or its hypoallergenic clone-372 could exert a prophylactic role in Per a 2-sensitized mice. The cDNAs coding Per a 2–996 and Per a 2–372 were inserted into TuMV vector and expressed in Chinese cabbage. Adult female BALB/c mice were fed with the cabbage extracts for 21 days and subsequently underwent two-step sensitization with recombinant Per a 2. Results Per a 2-specific IgE measured by in-house ELISA in the sera of Per a 2-372-treated groups were significantly lower than in the control groups after allergen challenge but not the Per a 2-996-treated group. Moreover, Per a 2–372 vaccine markedly decreased airway hyper-responsiveness and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs, as well as reduced mRNA expression of IL-4 and IL-13 in comparison with the control mice. Conclusion Our data suggest that oral administration of edible plant vaccine encoding Per a 2 hypo-allergen may be used as a prophylactic strategy against the development of cockroach allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mey-Fann Lee
- Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Hui Chiang
- Department of Plant Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Lan Li
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Nancy M. Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Pong Song
- Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shyh-Jye Lin
- School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsing Chen
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Margolin E, Chapman R, Williamson A, Rybicki EP, Meyers AE. Production of complex viral glycoproteins in plants as vaccine immunogens. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:1531-1545. [PMID: 29890031 PMCID: PMC6097131 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Plant molecular farming offers a cost-effective and scalable approach to the expression of recombinant proteins which has been proposed as an alternative to conventional production platforms for developing countries. In recent years, numerous proofs of concept have established that plants can produce biologically active recombinant proteins and immunologically relevant vaccine antigens that are comparable to those made in conventional expression systems. Driving many of these advances is the remarkable plasticity of the plant proteome which enables extensive engineering of the host cell, as well as the development of improved expression vectors facilitating higher levels of protein production. To date, the only plant-derived viral glycoprotein to be tested in humans is the influenza haemagglutinin which expresses at ~50 mg/kg. However, many other viral glycoproteins that have potential as vaccine immunogens only accumulate at low levels in planta. A critical consideration for the production of many of these proteins in heterologous expression systems is the complexity of post-translational modifications, such as control of folding, glycosylation and disulphide bridging, which is required to reproduce the native glycoprotein structure. In this review, we will address potential shortcomings of plant expression systems and discuss strategies to optimally exploit the technology for the production of immunologically relevant and structurally authentic glycoproteins for use as vaccine immunogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Margolin
- Division of Medical VirologyDepartment of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Biopharming Research UnitDepartment of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Division of Medical VirologyDepartment of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Anna‐Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical VirologyDepartment of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Edward P. Rybicki
- Division of Medical VirologyDepartment of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Biopharming Research UnitDepartment of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Ann E. Meyers
- Biopharming Research UnitDepartment of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Abstract
Plant molecular farming depends on a diversity of plant systems for production of useful recombinant proteins. These proteins include protein biopolymers, industrial proteins and enzymes, and therapeutic proteins. Plant production systems include microalgae, cells, hairy roots, moss, and whole plants with both stable and transient expression. Production processes involve a narrowing diversity of bioreactors for cell, hairy root, microalgae, and moss cultivation. For whole plants, both field and automated greenhouse cultivation methods are used with products expressed and produced either in leaves or seeds. Many successful expression systems now exist for a variety of different products with a list of increasingly successful commercialized products. This chapter provides an overview and examples of the current state of plant-based production systems for different types of recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Bley
- Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Disease Prevention: An Opportunity to Expand Edible Plant-Based Vaccines? Vaccines (Basel) 2017; 5:vaccines5020014. [PMID: 28556800 PMCID: PMC5492011 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines5020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The lethality of infectious diseases has decreased due to the implementation of crucial sanitary procedures such as vaccination. However, the resurgence of pathogenic diseases in different parts of the world has revealed the importance of identifying novel, rapid, and concrete solutions for control and prevention. Edible vaccines pose an interesting alternative that could overcome some of the constraints of traditional vaccines. The term “edible vaccine” refers to the use of edible parts of a plant that has been genetically modified to produce specific components of a particular pathogen to generate protection against a disease. The aim of this review is to present and critically examine “edible vaccines” as an option for global immunization against pathogenic diseases and their outbreaks and to discuss the necessary steps for their production and control and the list of plants that may already be used as edible vaccines. Additionally, this review discusses the required standards and ethical regulations as well as the advantages and disadvantages associated with this powerful biotechnology tool.
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da Cunha NB, Cobacho NB, Viana JFC, Lima LA, Sampaio KBO, Dohms SSM, Ferreira ACR, de la Fuente-Núñez C, Costa FF, Franco OL, Dias SC. The next generation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as molecular therapeutic tools for the treatment of diseases with social and economic impacts. Drug Discov Today 2017; 22:234-248. [PMID: 27890668 PMCID: PMC7185764 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Anti-infective drugs have had a key role in the contemporary world, contributing to dramatically decrease mortality rates caused by infectious diseases worldwide. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are multifunctional effectors of the innate immune system of mucosal surfaces and present antimicrobial activity against a range of pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and fungi. However, the discovery and development of new antibacterial drugs is a crucial step to overcome the great challenge posed by the emergence of antibiotic resistance. In this review, we outline recent advances in the development of novel AMPs with improved antimicrobial activities that were achieved through characteristic structural design. In addition, we describe recent progress made to overcome some of the major limitations that have hindered peptide biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau B da Cunha
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil; Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program - Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Nicole B Cobacho
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Juliane F C Viana
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil; Universidade Ceuma, Rua Josué Montello, 1, 65060-645 São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Loiane A Lima
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Kamila B O Sampaio
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Stephan S M Dohms
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Arthur C R Ferreira
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - César de la Fuente-Núñez
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 02139 Cambridge, MA, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 02139 Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 02139 Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 02142 Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 02142 Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Biophysics Program, Harvard University, 02115 Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fabrício F Costa
- Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program - Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
| | - Octávio L Franco
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil; Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program - Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil; S-Inova Biotech, Post-Graduation in Biotechnology, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, 79117-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Simoni C Dias
- Center of Proteomic and Biochemical Analysis, Post-Graduation in Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil; Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program - Universidade Católica de Brasília UCB, SGAN 916, Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
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Adhikari N, Baidya SK, Saha A, Jha T. Structural Insight Into the Viral 3C-Like Protease Inhibitors: Comparative SAR/QSAR Approaches. VIRAL PROTEASES AND THEIR INHIBITORS 2017. [PMCID: PMC7150231 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-809712-0.00011-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), caused by SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV), is a dreadful infection worldwide having economic and medical importance and a global threat for health. It was turned into an epidemic in South China followed by a chain of infections across three generations. A number of pathogeneses in human may occur due to the virus. This infection has not been taken into account before the SARS outbreak, and still it is a neglected one. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop small molecule antivirals to combat the SARS-CoV. No vaccines are available till date though a number of SARS-CoV 3C-like and 3C protease inhibitors were reported. In this chapter, quantitative structure–activity relationship technique is used for development of anti-SARS and anti-HRV drugs and outcome discussed in details. This approach may be a useful strategy to design novel and potential anti-SARS drugs to combat these dreadful viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tarun Jha
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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Pandey SK, Nookaraju A, Fujino T, Pattathil S, Joshi CP. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS)-mediated functional characterization of two genes involved in lignocellulosic secondary cell wall formation. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2016; 35:2353-2367. [PMID: 27522520 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-016-2039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Functional characterization of two tobacco genes, one involved in xylan synthesis and the other, a positive regulator of secondary cell wall formation, is reported. Lignocellulosic secondary cell walls (SCW) provide essential plant materials for the production of second-generation bioethanol. Therefore, thorough understanding of the process of SCW formation in plants is beneficial for efficient bioethanol production. Recently, we provided the first proof-of-concept for using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) approach for rapid functional characterization of nine genes involved in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin synthesis during SCW formation. Here, we report VIGS-mediated functional characterization of two tobacco genes involved in SCW formation. Stems of VIGS plants silenced for both selected genes showed increased amount of xylem formation but thinner cell walls than controls. These results were further confirmed by production of stable transgenic tobacco plants manipulated in expression of these genes. Stems of stable transgenic tobacco plants silenced for these two genes showed increased xylem proliferation with thinner walls, whereas transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing these two genes showed increased fiber cell wall thickness but no change in xylem proliferation. These two selected genes were later identified as possible members of DUF579 family involved in xylan synthesis and KNAT7 transcription factor family involved in positive regulation of SCW formation, respectively. Glycome analyses of cell walls showed increased polysaccharide extractability in 1 M KOH extracts of both VIGS-NbDUF579 and VIGS-NbKNAT7 lines suggestive of cell wall loosening. Also, VIGS-NbDUF579 and VIGS-NbKNAT7 lines showed increased saccharification rates (74.5 and 40 % higher than controls, respectively). All these properties are highly desirable for producing higher quantities of bioethanol from lignocellulosic materials of bioenergy plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashank K Pandey
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea
| | - Akula Nookaraju
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences and School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
- Kaveri Seed Company Ltd., Minerva Complex, Secunderabad, 500003, India
| | - Takeshi Fujino
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea
| | - Sivakumar Pattathil
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, 31, Riverbend Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Chandrashekhar P Joshi
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea.
- Department of Biological Sciences and School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA.
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He Y, Schmidt MA, Erwin C, Guo J, Sun R, Pendarvis K, Warner BW, Herman EM. Transgenic Soybean Production of Bioactive Human Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157034. [PMID: 27314851 PMCID: PMC4912142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating condition of premature infants that results from the gut microbiome invading immature intestinal tissues. This results in a life-threatening disease that is frequently treated with the surgical removal of diseased and dead tissues. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), typically found in bodily fluids, such as amniotic fluid, salvia and mother's breast milk, is an intestinotrophic growth factor and may reduce the onset of NEC in premature infants. We have produced human EGF in soybean seeds to levels biologically relevant and demonstrated its comparable activity to commercially available EGF. Transgenic soybean seeds expressing a seed-specific codon optimized gene encoding of the human EGF protein with an added ER signal tag at the N' terminal were produced. Seven independent lines were grown to homozygous and found to accumulate a range of 6.7 +/- 3.1 to 129.0 +/- 36.7 μg EGF/g of dry soybean seed. Proteomic and immunoblot analysis indicates that the inserted EGF is the same as the human EGF protein. Phosphorylation and immunohistochemical assays on the EGF receptor in HeLa cells indicate the EGF protein produced in soybean seed is bioactive and comparable to commercially available human EGF. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using soybean seeds as a biofactory to produce therapeutic agents in a soymilk delivery platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua He
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Monica A. Schmidt
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Christopher Erwin
- St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jun Guo
- St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Raphael Sun
- St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Ken Pendarvis
- School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Brad W. Warner
- St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Eliot M. Herman
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
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Demurtas OC, Massa S, Illiano E, De Martinis D, Chan PKS, Di Bonito P, Franconi R. Antigen Production in Plant to Tackle Infectious Diseases Flare Up: The Case of SARS. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:54. [PMID: 26904039 PMCID: PMC4742786 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a dangerous infection with pandemic potential. It emerged in 2002 and its aetiological agent, the SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), crossed the species barrier to infect humans, showing high morbidity and mortality rates. No vaccines are currently licensed for SARS-CoV and important efforts have been performed during the first outbreak to develop diagnostic tools. Here we demonstrate the transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana of two important antigenic determinants of the SARS-CoV, the nucleocapsid protein (N) and the membrane protein (M) using a virus-derived vector or agro-infiltration, respectively. For the M protein, this is the first description of production in plants, while for plant-derived N protein we demonstrate that it is recognized by sera of patients from the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003. The availability of recombinant N and M proteins from plants opens the way to further evaluation of their potential utility for the development of diagnostic and protection/therapy tools to be quickly manufactured, at low cost and with minimal risk, to face potential new highly infectious SARS-CoV outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia C. Demurtas
- Department of Sustainability, Biotechnology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Silvia Massa
- Department of Sustainability, Biotechnology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Elena Illiano
- Department of Sustainability, Biomedical Technology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di MilanoMilan, Italy
| | - Domenico De Martinis
- International Relations Office, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
| | - Paul K. S. Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales HospitalHong Kong, China
- Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales HospitalHong Kong, China
| | - Paola Di Bonito
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated DiseasesRome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosella Franconi, ; Paola Di Bonito,
| | - Rosella Franconi
- Department of Sustainability, Biomedical Technology Laboratory, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic DevelopmentRome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosella Franconi, ; Paola Di Bonito,
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Streatfield SJ, Kushnir N, Yusibov V. Plant-produced candidate countermeasures against emerging and reemerging infections and bioterror agents. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:1136-59. [PMID: 26387510 PMCID: PMC7167919 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite progress in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, they continue to present a major threat to public health. The frequency of emerging and reemerging infections and the risk of bioterrorism warrant significant efforts towards the development of prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures. Vaccines are the mainstay of infectious disease prophylaxis. Traditional vaccines, however, are failing to satisfy the global demand because of limited scalability of production systems, long production timelines and product safety concerns. Subunit vaccines are a highly promising alternative to traditional vaccines. Subunit vaccines, as well as monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic proteins, can be produced in heterologous expression systems based on bacteria, yeast, insect cells or mammalian cells, in shorter times and at higher quantities, and are efficacious and safe. However, current recombinant systems have certain limitations associated with production capacity and cost. Plants are emerging as a promising platform for recombinant protein production due to time and cost efficiency, scalability, lack of harboured mammalian pathogens and possession of the machinery for eukaryotic post-translational protein modification. So far, a variety of subunit vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic proteins (antivirals) have been produced in plants as candidate countermeasures against emerging, reemerging and bioterrorism-related infections. Many of these have been extensively evaluated in animal models and some have shown safety and immunogenicity in clinical trials. Here, we overview ongoing efforts to producing such plant-based countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natasha Kushnir
- Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Vidadi Yusibov
- Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, DE, USA
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Wang S, Liu H, Zhang X, Qian F. Intranasal and oral vaccination with protein-based antigens: advantages, challenges and formulation strategies. Protein Cell 2015; 6:480-503. [PMID: 25944045 PMCID: PMC4491048 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-015-0164-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Most pathogens initiate their infections at the human mucosal surface. Therefore, mucosal vaccination, especially through oral or intranasal administration routes, is highly desired for infectious diseases. Meanwhile, protein-based antigens provide a safer alternative to the whole pathogen or DNA based ones in vaccine development. However, the unique biopharmaceutical hurdles that intranasally or orally delivered protein vaccines need to overcome before they reach the sites of targeting, the relatively low immunogenicity, as well as the low stability of the protein antigens, require thoughtful and fine-tuned mucosal vaccine formulations, including the selection of immunostimulants, the identification of the suitable vaccine delivery system, and the determination of the exact composition and manufacturing conditions. This review aims to provide an up-to-date survey of the protein antigen-based vaccine formulation development, including the usage of immunostimulants and the optimization of vaccine delivery systems for intranasal and oral administrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Medicine and Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Ko K. Expression of recombinant vaccines and antibodies in plants. Monoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother 2015; 33:192-8. [PMID: 24937251 DOI: 10.1089/mab.2014.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants are able to perform post-translational maturations of therapeutic proteins required for their functional biological activity and suitable in vivo pharmacokinetics. Plants can be a low-cost, large-scale production platform of recombinant biopharmaceutical proteins such as vaccines and antibodies. Plants, however, lack mechanisms of processing authentic human N-glycosylation, which imposes a major limitation in their use as an expression system for therapeutic glycoproducts. Efforts have been made to circumvent plant-specific N-glycosylation, as well as to supplement the plant's endogenous system with human glycosyltransferases for non-immunogenic and humanized N-glycan production. Herein we review studies on the potential of plants to serve as production systems for therapeutic and prophylactic biopharmaceuticals. We have especially focused on recombinant vaccines and antibodies and new expression strategies to overcome the existing problems associated with their production in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kisung Ko
- Department of Medicine, Therapeutic Protein Engineering Lab, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea
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