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Improving Protein Quantity and Quality—The Next Level of Plant Molecular Farming. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031326. [PMID: 35163249 PMCID: PMC8836236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants offer several unique advantages in the production of recombinant pharmaceuticals for humans and animals. Although numerous recombinant proteins have been expressed in plants, only a small fraction have been successfully put into use. The hugely distinct expression systems between plant and animal cells frequently cause insufficient yield of the recombinant proteins with poor or undesired activity. To overcome the issues that greatly constrain the development of plant-produced pharmaceuticals, great efforts have been made to improve expression systems and develop alternative strategies to increase both the quantity and quality of the recombinant proteins. Recent technological revolutions, such as targeted genome editing, deconstructed vectors, virus-like particles, and humanized glycosylation, have led to great advances in plant molecular farming to meet the industrial manufacturing and clinical application standards. In this review, we discuss the technological advances made in various plant expression platforms, with special focus on the upstream designs and milestone achievements in improving the yield and glycosylation of the plant-produced pharmaceutical proteins.
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Recent advances in molecular farming using monocot plants. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 58:107913. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Yeast-expressed recombinant As16 protects mice against Ascaris suum infection through induction of a Th2-skewed immune response. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005769. [PMID: 28708895 PMCID: PMC5529013 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ascariasis remains the most common helminth infection in humans. As an alternative or complementary approach to global deworming, a pan-anthelminthic vaccine is under development targeting Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris infections. As16 and As14 have previously been described as two genetically related proteins from Ascaris suum that induced protective immunity in mice when formulated with cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) as an adjuvant, but the exact protective mechanism was not well understood. Methodology/Principal findings As16 and As14 were highly expressed as soluble recombinant proteins (rAs16 and rAs14) in Pichia pastoris. The yeast-expressed rAs16 was highly recognized by immune sera from mice infected with A. suum eggs and elicited 99.6% protection against A. suum re-infection. Mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with ISA720 displayed significant larva reduction (36.7%) and stunted larval development against A. suum eggs challenge. The protective immunity was associated with a predominant Th2-type response characterized by high titers of serological IgG1 (IgG1/IgG2a > 2000) and high levels of IL-4 and IL-5 produced by restimulated splenocytes. A similar level of protection was observed in mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with alum (Alhydrogel), known to induce mainly a Th2-type immune response, whereas mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with MPLA or AddaVax, both known to induce a Th1-type biased response, were not significantly protected against A. suum infection. The rAs14 protein was not recognized by A. suum infected mouse sera and mice immunized with rAs14 formulated with ISA720 did not show significant protection against challenge infection, possibly due to the protein’s inaccessibility to the host immune system or a Th1-type response was induced which would counter a protective Th2-type response. Conclusions/Significance Yeast-expressed rAs16 formulated with ISA720 or alum induced significant protection in mice against A. suum egg challenge that associates with a Th2-skewed immune response, suggesting that rAS16 could be a feasible vaccine candidate against ascariasis. Roundworms (Ascaris) infect more than 700 million people living in poverty worldwide and cause malnutrition and physical and mental developmental delays in children. As an alternative or complementary approach to global deworming, a pan-anthelminthic vaccine is under development that targets ascariasis in addition to other human intestinal nematode infections. Towards this goal, two Ascaris suum antigens, As16 and As14, were expressed in Pichia pastoris as recombinant proteins. Mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with ISA720 adjuvant produced significant larva reduction (36.7%) and stunted larval development against A. suum egg challenge. The protection was associated with predominant Th2-type responses characterized by high levels of serological IgG1 (IgG1/IgG2a > 2,000) and Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-5. A similar level of protection was observed in mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with alum that induces mainly a Th2-type immune response, whereas mice immunized with rAs16 formulated with MPLA or AddaVax, both inducing major Th1-type responses, were not significantly protected against A. suum infection. High-yield expression of rAs16 in yeast will allow for large-scale manufacture, and its protective efficacy when formulated with alum suggests its suitability as a vaccine candidate.
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Aryamvally A, Gunasekaran V, Narenthiran KR, Pasupathi R. New Strategies Toward Edible Vaccines: An Overview. J Diet Suppl 2016; 14:101-116. [PMID: 27065206 DOI: 10.3109/19390211.2016.1168904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
With the ever growing population, advancements in edible vaccines and related technologies have seen a rise in popularity. Antigenic peptides incorporated into an edible part of a plant can be administered raw as a vaccine. While conventional vaccines have improved the quality of life by drastically reducing the onset of diseases, edible vaccines are able to perform the same with greater accessibility and at an affordable price. Low cost of production, ease of storage, transportation and administration are some of the many reasons behind the push for the development of edible vaccines. This article aims at giving an overview of the different plant systems used to produce vaccines in various experiments, as well as the merits and demerits of using that particular expression system. Further, the article elaborates on the problems faced in the production of edible vaccines and the measures adopted to surpass them. The major obstacle in the process is attaining a sufficiently large concentration of foreign antigen in the plant system. The article discusses various plant expression systems like banana, rice, alfalfa, mushroom, potato, tomato, pea, tobacco, and maize. When these were reviewed, it was found that the inability to produce the desired antigen concentration was one of the primary reasons why edible vaccines sometimes fail to generate the desired level of immune response in the recipient. We conclude with a promising solution to the problem by incorporating nano-technological advancements to the already existing protocols for edible vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Aryamvally
- a Department of Genetic Engineering , SRM University , Kattankulathur , Tamil Nadu , India
| | - Vignesh Gunasekaran
- a Department of Genetic Engineering , SRM University , Kattankulathur , Tamil Nadu , India
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Takaiwa F, Wakasa Y, Takagi H, Hiroi T. Rice seed for delivery of vaccines to gut mucosal immune tissues. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:1041-55. [PMID: 26100952 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is the biggest lymphoid organ in the body. It plays a role in robust immune responses against invading pathogens while maintaining immune tolerance against nonpathogenic antigens such as foods. Oral vaccination can induce mucosal and systemic antigen-specific immune reactions and has several advantages including ease of administration, no requirement for purification and ease of scale-up of antigen. Thus far, taking advantage of these properties, various plant-based oral vaccines have been developed. Seeds provide a superior production platform over other plant tissues for oral vaccines; they offer a suitable delivery vehicle to GALT due to their high stability at room temperature, ample and stable deposition space, high expression level, and protection from digestive enzymes in gut. A rice seed production system for oral vaccines was established by combining stable deposition in protein bodies or protein storage vacuoles and enhanced endosperm-specific expression. Various types of rice-based oral vaccines for infectious and allergic diseases were generated. Efficacy of these rice-based vaccines was evaluated in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumio Takaiwa
- Functional Crop Research and Development Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yuhya Wakasa
- Functional Crop Research and Development Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hidenori Takagi
- Functional Crop Research and Development Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takachika Hiroi
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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Juárez-Montiel M, Romero-Maldonado A, Monreal-Escalante E, Becerra-Flora A, Korban SS, Rosales-Mendoza S, Jiménez-Bremont JF. The Corn Smut ('Huitlacoche') as a New Platform for Oral Vaccines. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26207365 PMCID: PMC4514630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of new alternative platforms for subunit vaccine production is a priority in the biomedical field. In this study, Ustilago maydis, the causal agent of common corn smut or ‘huitlacoche’has been genetically engineered to assess expression and immunogenicity of the B subunit of the cholera toxin (CTB), a relevant immunomodulatory agent in vaccinology. An oligomeric CTB recombinant protein was expressed in corn smut galls at levels of up to 1.3 mg g-1 dry weight (0.8% of the total soluble protein). Mice orally immunized with ‘huitlacoche’-derived CTB showed significant humoral responses that were well-correlated with protection against challenge with the cholera toxin (CT). These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using edible corn smut as a safe, effective, and low-cost platform for production and delivery of a subunit oral vaccine. The implications of this platform in the area of molecular pharming are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Juárez-Montiel
- Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Andrea Romero-Maldonado
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Elizabeth Monreal-Escalante
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Alicia Becerra-Flora
- Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Schuyler S. Korban
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
- * E-mail: (SRM); (JFJB)
| | - Juan Francisco Jiménez-Bremont
- Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
- * E-mail: (SRM); (JFJB)
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Zhan B, Beaumier CM, Briggs N, Jones KM, Keegan BP, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ. Advancing a multivalent 'Pan-anthelmintic' vaccine against soil-transmitted nematode infections. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 13:321-31. [PMID: 24392641 PMCID: PMC3934375 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2014.872035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ascaris lumbricoides The Sabin Vaccine Institute Product Development Partnership is developing a Pan-anthelmintic vaccine that simultaneously targets the major soil-transmitted nematode infections, in other words, ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection. The approach builds off the current bivalent Human Hookworm Vaccine now in clinical development and would ultimately add both a larval Ascaris lumbricoides antigen and an adult-stage Trichuris trichiura antigen from the parasite stichosome. Each selected antigen would partially reproduce the protective immunity afforded by UV-attenuated Ascaris eggs and Trichuris stichosome extracts, respectively. Final antigen selection will apply a ranking system that includes the evaluation of expression yields and solubility, feasibility of process development and the absence of circulating antigen-specific IgE among populations living in helminth-endemic regions. Here we describe a five year roadmap for the antigen discovery, feasibility and antigen selection, which will ultimately lead to the scale-up expression, process development, manufacture, good laboratory practices toxicology and preclinical evaluation, ultimately leading to Phase 1 clinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhan
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, TX , USA
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Martiniuk F, Reggi S, Tchou-Wong KM, Rom WN, Busconi M, Fogher C. Production of a functional human acid maltase in tobacco seeds: biochemical analysis, uptake by human GSDII cells, and in vivo studies in GAA knockout mice. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2013; 171:916-26. [PMID: 23907679 PMCID: PMC4703872 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-013-0367-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 06/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Genetic deficiency of acid alpha glucosidase (GAA) results in glycogen storage disease type II (GSDII) or Pompe's disease. To investigate whether we could generate a functional recombinant human GAA enzyme (tobrhGAA) in tobacco seeds for future enzyme replacement therapy, we subcloned the human GAA cDNA into the plant expression plasmid-pBI101 under the control of the soybean β-conglycinin seed-specific promoter and biochemically analyzed the tobrhGAA. Tobacco seeds contain the metabolic machinery that is more compatible with mammalian glycosylation-phosphorylation and processing. We found the tobrhGAA to be enzymatically active was readily taken up by GSDII fibroblasts and in white blood cells from whole blood to reverse the defect. The tobrhGAA corrected the enzyme defect in tissues at 7 days after a single dose following intraperitoneal (IP) administration in GAA knockout (GAA(-/-)) mice. Additionally, we could purify the tobrhGAA since it bound tightly to the matrix of Sephadex G100 and can be eluted by competition with maltose. These data demonstrate indirectly that the tobrhGAA is fully functional, predominantly proteolytically cleaved and contains the minimal phosphorylation and mannose-6-phosphate residues essential for biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Martiniuk
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. iProDynamic Therapeutics, Inc, New York, NY 10128, USA
| | - Serena Reggi
- Plantechno Srl, Via Staffolo 60, 26041 Casalmaggiore, Italy
| | - Kam-Meng Tchou-Wong
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, NY, USA
| | - William N. Rom
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Matteo Busconi
- Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Via E. Parmense 84, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Corrado Fogher
- Plantechno Srl, Via Staffolo 60, 26041 Casalmaggiore, Italy
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Chunfeng G, Xiaozhou L, Gang W, Jing J, Chao J, Josine TL. Expression of Cholera Toxin B–Lumbrokinase Fusion Protein in Pichia pastoris—The Use of Transmucosal Carriers in the Delivery of Therapeutic Proteins to Protect Rats Against Thrombosis. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2012; 169:636-50. [DOI: 10.1007/s12010-012-0004-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 11/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Rosales-Mendoza S, Govea-Alonso DO, Monreal-Escalante E, Fragoso G, Sciutto E. Developing plant-based vaccines against neglected tropical diseases: where are we? Vaccine 2012; 31:40-8. [PMID: 23142588 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.10.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) impair the lives of 1 billion people worldwide, and threaten the health of millions more. Although vaccine candidates have been proposed to prevent some NTDs, no vaccine is available at the market yet. Vaccines against NTDs should be low-cost and needle-free to reduce the logistic cost of their administration. Plant-based vaccines meet both requirements: plant systems allow antigen production at low cost, and also yield an optimal delivery vehicle that prevents or delays digestive hydrolysis of vaccine antigens. This review covers recent reports on the development of plant-based vaccines against NTDs. Efforts conducted by a number of research groups to develop vaccines as a mean to fight rabies, cysticercosis, dengue, and helminthiasis are emphasized. Future perspectives are identified, such as the need to develop vaccination models for more than ten pathologies through a plant-based biotechnological approach. Current limitations on the method are also noted, and molecular approaches that might allow us to address such limitations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de biofarmacéuticos recombinantes, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, SLP, 78210, Mexico.
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Soria-Guerra RE, Moreno-Fierros L, Rosales-Mendoza S. Two decades of plant-based candidate vaccines: a review of the chimeric protein approaches. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2011; 30:1367-1382. [PMID: 21505834 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-011-1065-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Revised: 03/20/2011] [Accepted: 03/22/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Genetic engineering revolutionized the concept of traditional vaccines since subunit vaccines became reality. Additionally, over the past two decades plant-derived antigens have been studied as potential vaccines with several advantages, including low cost and convenient administration. More specifically, genetic fusions allowed the expression of fusion proteins carrying two or more components with the aim to elicit immune responses against different targets, including antigens from distinct pathogens or strains. This review aims to provide an update in the field of the production of plant-based vaccine, focusing on those approaches based on the production of chimeric proteins comprising antigens from human pathogens, emphasizing the case of cholera toxin/E. coli enterotoxin fusions, chimeric viruses like particles approaches as well as the possible use of adjuvant-producing plants as expression hosts. Challenges for the near future in this field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Elena Soria-Guerra
- Laboratorio de biofarmacéuticos recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, 78210, San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico
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Huy NX, Yang MS, Kim TG. Expression of a cholera toxin B subunit-neutralizing epitope of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus fusion gene in transgenic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Mol Biotechnol 2011; 48:201-9. [PMID: 21153716 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-010-9359-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic plants have been used as a safe and economic expression system for the production of edible vaccines. A synthetic cholera toxin B subunit gene (CTB) was fused with a synthetic neutralizing epitope gene of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (sCTB-sCOE), and the sCTB-sCOE fusion gene was introduced into a plant expression vector under the control of the ubiquitin promoter. This plant expression vector was transformed into lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. Stable integration and transcriptional expression of the sCTB-sCOE fusion gene was confirmed using genomic DNA PCR analysis and northern blot analysis, respectively. The results of western blot analysis with anti-cholera toxin and anti-COE antibody showed the synthesis and assembly of CTB-COE fusion protein into oligomeric structures with pentameric sizing. The biological activity of CTB-COE fusion protein to its receptor, G(M1)-ganglioside, in transgenic plants was confirmed via G(M1)-ELISA with anti-cholera toxin and anti-COE antibody. Based on G(M1)-ELISA, the expression level of CTB-COE fusion proteins reached 0.0065% of the total soluble protein in transgenic lettuce leaf tissues. Transgenic lettuce successfully expressing CTB-COE fusion protein will be tested to induce efficient immune responses against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection by administration with raw material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen-Xuan Huy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Chonbuk 561-756, Republic of Korea
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