Plant viral vectors based on tobamoviruses
V Yusibov1, S Shivprasad, T H Turpen
1Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|July 8, 1999
Summary
Plant virus expression vectors enable large-scale production of foreign proteins. These systems offer economical biomass, easy purification, and potential for edible vaccines, making them valuable tools in biotechnology.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Virology
Background:
- Plant virus-based transient expression vectors offer significant potential for biotechnology.
- Commercial applications are emerging, with companies producing large quantities of virus-generated products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the production of large quantities of foreign peptides or proteins using plant virus vectors.
- To highlight the utility of these vectors for protein purification, gene discovery, and vaccine development.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing plant virus vectors for transient expression of foreign peptides/proteins.
- Engineering proteins for easy purification (e.g., fusion to virions, apoplast export).
- Employing vectors for gene identification via overexpression or silencing.
Main Results:
- Large amounts of protein have been successfully produced for analysis.
- Methods for simplified purification, including virion fusion and apoplast export, have been demonstrated.
- Virus-based vectors are effective for gene discovery and developing novel immunogens for vaccines.
Conclusions:
- Plant virus expression vectors are powerful tools for producing valuable biomolecules economically.
- Plants offer advantages like cost-effectiveness, safety (no animal pathogens), and genetic tractability.
- These vectors hold promise for applications ranging from biochemical analysis to edible vaccines.
