Table 3 Examples of plant-derived vaccines for the prevention and treatment of human diseases
(sourced from Loh et al. 2017)
Target protein
Host/expression
strategy
Functionality evaluation
Reference
Anthrax protective antigen 83 (PA83)
Nicotiana
benthamiana/
transient
Detection of high-titre
toxin-neutralizing antibodies.
100% survival of immunized rabbits (IM) against
lethal anthrax challenge
Chichester
et al. (2013)
Brassica juncea
(mustard)/transgenic (nuclear)
Detection of systemic and
mucosal immune responses.
60% survival of orally
immunized mice against
lethal anthrax challenge
Gorantala
et al. (2014)
Nicotiana tabacum
(tobacco)/transgenic (chloroplast)
Detection of systemic and
mucosal immune responses.
80% survival of orally
immunized mice against
lethal anthrax challenge
Gorantala
et al. (2014)
Dengue consensus
domain III of envelope
glycoprotein (cEDIII)
with 6D8 anti-Ebola IgG
N. benthamiana/
transient
Detection of virusneutralizing specific anticEDIII humoral immune
response in immunized
mice (SC)
Kim et al.
(2015)
Ebola glycoprotein
(GP) in fusion with
6D8 anti-Ebola IgG
N. benthamiana/
transient
Detection of humoral
immune responses.
80% survival of immunized
mice (SC) against lethal
EBV challenge
Phoolcharoen
et al. (2011)
EBOV GP1 in fusion with
E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit
Tobacco/transgenic
(nuclear)
Detection of serum IgG in
immunized mice (SC) and
faecal IgA in immunized
mice via oral administration
Rios-Huerta
et al. (2017)
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
small surface antigen
Lactuca sativa (lettuce)/transgenic
(nuclear)
Detection of serum IgG in
immunized mice via oral
administration
Czyż et al.
(2014)
HBV surface antigen
(HBsAg) SUV against
HBV
Solanum tuberosum
(potato)/transgenic
(nuclear)
Induction of serum antibodies and stable immunological memory in
immunized mice fed with
transgenic potato tubers
Rukavtsova
et al. (2015)
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120
multi-epitopic envelope
protein
Lettuce/transgenic
(nuclear)
Detection of cell-mediated
and humoral immunities in
immunized mice via oral
administration
GoveaAlonso et al.
(2013)
HIV gp120 and gp41
multi-epitopic envelope
proteins
Tobacco/transgenic
(chloroplast)
Detection of antibody and
cellular responses as well as
specific IFN-g production in
immunized mice via oral
administration
Rubio-Infante
et al. (2015)
(continued)
78
S. Massa et al.
(sourced from Loh et al. 2017)
Target protein
Host/expression
strategy
Functionality evaluation
Reference
Anthrax protective antigen 83 (PA83)
Nicotiana
benthamiana/
transient
Detection of high-titre
toxin-neutralizing antibodies.
100% survival of immunized rabbits (IM) against
lethal anthrax challenge
Chichester
et al. (2013)
Brassica juncea
(mustard)/transgenic (nuclear)
Detection of systemic and
mucosal immune responses.
60% survival of orally
immunized mice against
lethal anthrax challenge
Gorantala
et al. (2014)
Nicotiana tabacum
(tobacco)/transgenic (chloroplast)
Detection of systemic and
mucosal immune responses.
80% survival of orally
immunized mice against
lethal anthrax challenge
Gorantala
et al. (2014)
Dengue consensus
domain III of envelope
glycoprotein (cEDIII)
with 6D8 anti-Ebola IgG
N. benthamiana/
transient
Detection of virusneutralizing specific anticEDIII humoral immune
response in immunized
mice (SC)
Kim et al.
(2015)
Ebola glycoprotein
(GP) in fusion with
6D8 anti-Ebola IgG
N. benthamiana/
transient
Detection of humoral
immune responses.
80% survival of immunized
mice (SC) against lethal
EBV challenge
Phoolcharoen
et al. (2011)
EBOV GP1 in fusion with
E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit
Tobacco/transgenic
(nuclear)
Detection of serum IgG in
immunized mice (SC) and
faecal IgA in immunized
mice via oral administration
Rios-Huerta
et al. (2017)
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
small surface antigen
Lactuca sativa (lettuce)/transgenic
(nuclear)
Detection of serum IgG in
immunized mice via oral
administration
Czyż et al.
(2014)
HBV surface antigen
(HBsAg) SUV against
HBV
Solanum tuberosum
(potato)/transgenic
(nuclear)
Induction of serum antibodies and stable immunological memory in
immunized mice fed with
transgenic potato tubers
Rukavtsova
et al. (2015)
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120
multi-epitopic envelope
protein
Lettuce/transgenic
(nuclear)
Detection of cell-mediated
and humoral immunities in
immunized mice via oral
administration
GoveaAlonso et al.
(2013)
HIV gp120 and gp41
multi-epitopic envelope
proteins
Tobacco/transgenic
(chloroplast)
Detection of antibody and
cellular responses as well as
specific IFN-g production in
immunized mice via oral
administration
Rubio-Infante
et al. (2015)
(continued)
78
S. Massa et al.