Plant-Based Vaccine Antigen Production.

Area of Science:

• Plant biotechnology
• Vaccine development
• Protein expression

Background:

• Plant-based expression systems offer a cost-effective and scalable platform for producing therapeutic proteins like vaccines and antibodies.
• Significant challenges remain, including low production yields and difficulties in scaling up purification processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and discuss protocols for influenza vaccine production using transient expression in tobacco plants.
• To address the challenges of inadequate production levels and non-scalable purification.

Main Methods:

• Transient expression of influenza antigens in tobacco plants.
• Analytical validation using Western blot, ELISA, and hemagglutination assays.
• Purification via affinity chromatography and scalable membrane-based Inverse Transition Cycling (ITC).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated successful transient expression of influenza antigens in tobacco plants.
• Validated antigen integrity and functionality through various analytical assays.
• Showcased the efficacy of both classical affinity chromatography and scalable membrane-based ITC for purification.

Conclusions:

• Transient expression in tobacco plants is a viable strategy for influenza vaccine antigen production.
• The presented protocols overcome key hurdles in yield and purification scalability.
• This approach holds promise for low-cost, large-scale vaccine manufacturing.