Open AccessA launch vector for the production of vaccine antigens in plants
Author(s) -
Musiychuk Konstantin,
Stephenson Natalie,
Bi Hong,
Farrance Christine E.,
Orozovic Goran,
Brodelius Maria,
Brodelius Peter,
Horsey April,
Ugulava Natalia,
Shamloul AbdelMoneim,
Mett Vadim,
Rabindran Shailaja,
Streatfield Stephen J.,
Yusibov Vidadi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2006.00005.x
Subject(s) - vector (molecular biology) , antigen , virology , production (economics) , biology , immunology , recombinant dna , genetics , gene , economics , macroeconomics
Historically, most vaccines have been based on killed or live‐attenuated infectious agents. Although very successful at immunizing populations against disease, both approaches raise safety concerns and often have limited production capacity. This has resulted in increased emphasis on the development of subunit vaccines. Several recombinant systems have been considered for subunit vaccine manufacture, including plants, which offer advantages both in cost and in scale of production. We have developed a plant expression system utilizing a ‘launch vector’, which combines the advantageous features of standard agrobacterial binary plasmids and plant viral vectors, to achieve high‐level target antigen expression in plants. As an additional feature, to aid in target expression, stability and purification, we have engineered a thermostable carrier molecule to which antigens are fused. We have applied this launch vector/carrier system to engineer and express target antigens from various pathogens, including, influenza A/Vietnam/04 (H5N1) virus.