Citation

Streatfield SJ. Trends Biotechnol. 2006; 24(8): 339-342.

Affiliation

Applied Biotechnology Institute, 101 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77845, USA. sstreatfield@fraunhofer-cmb.org

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.tibtech.2006.06.006

PMID

16815579

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis is ideal for making biological weapons, but the licensed anthrax vaccine is unsuitable for widespread public administration. Recombinant subunit-vaccine candidates offer potential alternatives, and plant-based production systems facilitate the inexpensive bulking of target antigens. A recent report demonstrates expression of anthrax protective antigen in tobacco chloroplasts--this material is immunogenic and protective when injected into mice. Provided an economic purification scheme can be developed, this technology holds promise for an improved vaccine.

Language: en