Researchers Develop New Vaccine for the Plague Using Plant Biotechnology
As a grant researcher, I have always been interested in reading and hearing about new developments in the field of medicine, whether these advancements were created by scientists and researchers at the university I work at or by scientists at other universities and institutions. That’s why I was interested in reading recently about a vaccine created by researchers to combat the deadliest for of the plague using plant biotechnology (Plague to be beaten with Plant-Derived Vaccines, CheckBiotech, 1/10/06).
According to the article, through an innovative feat of plant biotechnology and vaccine design, researchers in the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University genetically modified tobacco plants into vaccine production factories to combat the deadliest form of the plague. The researchers modified the tobacco plants to make high levels of the plague antigens F1, V, and a combination of the two, a F1-V fusion antigen. All are known to be important for the plague bacteria to produce its toxic effects.
The antigens were then purified from the plants and injected into guinea pigs. Testing using an aerosolized form of the plague was performed at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. More than half of the vaccinated animals survived the testing with all forms of the antigen and guinea pigs vaccinated with the V antigen alone had the highest survival rates, according to the study.
A new concern over the plague has emerged in recent years with respect to bioterrorism. According to Luca Santi, a research assistant professor at the Biodesign Institute and lead author of the study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, there have been some resistant strains to antibiotics that have been discovered and that poses a concern, especially if the plague would be used as a bioweapon.
“A new vaccine approach would be the best way to prevent infection,” she said.
Particularly worrisome to human health is the pneumonic form of disease, which can spread by an airborne route after infecting the lungs. It is considered universally fatal if not detected and treated after symptoms arise one to six days after initial exposure. Current vaccines against the plague are severely limited from widespread adoption by having problems with high adverse reaction rates and side effects.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th happened, there have been concerns about possible bioterrorism attacks in the United States. If this would ever happen, people need to be prepared and taken care of. Even though this vaccine has been tested on animals, it is a milestone for the development of a similar vaccine for human use. All thanks to biotechnology.
