A Short Review of Advances in Plant-Based Antigen Production Strategies and the Production of Viral Vaccine Antigens Derived from CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Edited N. benthamiana Plants for Enhanced Vaccine Efficacy

Abstract

AbstractPlant-based antigen manufacturing procedures have transformed vaccine research and industry by offering a cost-effective, scalable, and safe alternative to traditional protein production systems. This chapter discusses genome editing applications for plant-based protein production systems, antigen, and antibody manufacturing, as well as their future and current developments. The chapter briefly summarizes the several advantages of plant-based protein manufacturing platforms, including lower production costs, faster response to developing risks, and the absence of animal-derived components, which contributes to a lower risk of contamination and allergic responses. The chapter provides a basic overview of recent advances in plant-based antigen production, with a focus on vaccine antigens generated from CRISPR/Cas9 genome edited Nicotiana benthamiana to improve immunogenicity by altering plant glycosylation patterns to be more compatible with human glycosylation. Solving this could revolutionize existing vaccine production from plants to meet sustainable production objectives while also benefiting human health. These applications of genome editing demonstrate how versatile the approaches may be, from basic science to improving human health.