Biologics - medications derived from a biological source - are increasingly used as pharmaceuticals, for example, as vaccines. Biologics are usually produced in bacterial, mammalian or insect cells. Alternatively, plant molecular farming, that is, the manufacture of biologics in plant cells, transgenic plants and algae, offers a cheaper and easily adaptable strategy for the production of biologics, in particular, in low-resource settings. In this Review, we discuss current vaccination challenges, such as cold chain requirements, and highlight how plant molecular farming in combination with advanced materials can be applied to address these challenges. The production of plant viruses and virus-based nanotechnologies in plants enables low-cost and regional fabrication of thermostable vaccines. We also highlight key new vaccine delivery technologies, including microneedle patches and material platforms for intranasal and oral delivery. Finally, we provide an outlook of future possibilities for plant molecular farming of next-generation vaccines and biologics.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00399-5 | DOI Listing |
Appl Biochem Biotechnol
January 2025
Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India.
Gymnostachyum febrifugum, a less-known ethnomedicinal plant from the Western Ghats of India, is used to treat various diseases and serves as an antioxidant and antibacterial herb. The present study aims to profile the cytotoxic phytochemicals in G. febrifugum roots using GC-MS/MS, in vitro confirmation of cytotoxic potential against breast cancer and an in silico study to understand the mechanism of action.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant Physiol
January 2025
Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of abiotic stress responses in plants is instrumental for the development of climate-resilient crops. Key factors in abiotic stress responses, such as the proton- pumping pyrophosphatase (AVP1), have been identified, but their function and regulation remain elusive. Here, we explored the post-translational regulation of AVP1 by the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBC34 and its relevance in the salt stress and phosphate starvation responses of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant Biotechnol J
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China.
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), the integral components in the manufacture of digital displays, have engendered environmental concerns due to extensive utilization and intensive emission. Despite their prevalence and ecotoxicity, the LCM impacts on plant growth and agricultural yield remain inadequately understood. In this study, we investigated the specific response mechanisms of tobacco, a pivotal agricultural crop and model plant, to four representative LCMs (2OdF3B, 5CB, 4PiMeOP, 2BzoCP) through integrative molecular and physiological approaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPest Manag Sci
January 2025
Dpto. Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
Background: Chitin is a crucial component of fungal cell walls and an effective elicitor of plant immunity; however, phytopathogenic fungi have developed virulence mechanisms to counteract the activation of this plant defensive response. In this study, the molecular mechanism of chitin-induced suppression through effectors involved in chitin deacetylases (CDAs) and their degradation (EWCAs) was investigated with the idea of developing novel dsRNA-biofungicides to control the cucurbit powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii.
Results: The molecular mechanisms associated with the silencing effect of the PxCDA and PxEWCAs genes were first studied through dsRNA cotyledon infiltration assays, which revealed a ≈80% reduction in fungal biomass and a 50% decrease in gene expression.
Pest Manag Sci
January 2025
College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China.
Background: The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a notorious agricultural pest known for its ability to cause significant crop damage through direct feeding and virus transmission. Its remarkable adaptability and reproductive capacity are linked to its ability to acquire and integrate horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) into its genome. These HTGs increase the physiological and metabolic capacities of this pest, including cholesterol synthesis, which is critical for its survival and reproductive success.
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