Human papillomavirus vaccines in plants

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Biotechnology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the primary cause of cervical cancer, a major global health concern for women.
• Current prophylactic HPV vaccines, based on L1 major capsid protein, are effective but expensive, limited in serotype coverage, and require cold chain logistics.
• Existing vaccine production methods using yeast and insect cell lines present significant cost and accessibility barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of plant expression systems for producing prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV).
• To highlight recent advancements in plant-based vaccine production for HPV.
• To discuss the future prospects of plant-derived HPV vaccines.

Main Methods:

• Expression of human papillomavirus L1 major capsid protein in plant-based systems.
• Production of virus-like particles (VLPs) in plants for vaccine development.
• Review of recent research on plant-produced HPV antigens.

Main Results:

• Plant expression systems demonstrate promising results for producing HPV antigens.
• Plant-based production offers a potentially more affordable alternative to conventional vaccine manufacturing.
• This approach may overcome logistical challenges associated with current HPV vaccines.

Conclusions:

• Plant-based expression systems represent a viable and cost-effective strategy for developing novel human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.
• Advancements in plant biotechnology hold significant promise for improving global access to cervical cancer prevention.
• Future research should focus on optimizing plant-based production and clinical evaluation of these innovative vaccines.