The development of a plant-based vaccine for measles

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 23; no. 15; pp. 1859 - 1865
• Main Authors: Webster, D.E., Thomas, M.C., Huang, Z, Wesselingh, S.L.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 07.03.2005; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Disease; Endoplasmic reticulum; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemagglutinins - immunology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization, Secondary; Infectious diseases; Measles; Measles - epidemiology; Measles - prevention & control; Measles Vaccine - administration & dosage; Measles Vaccine - immunology; Measles virus; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Organisms, Genetically Modified; Plant-derived vaccine; Plants, Genetically Modified - immunology; Prime-boost vaccination; Proteins; Tobacco; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Plant-derived vaccine; Prime-boost vaccination; Measles; Infection; Viral disease; Vaccination; Vaccine
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.11.018

Plant-based vaccination strategies have the potential to overcome the limitations of the current measles vaccine. The measles virus hemagglutinin (MV-H) protein has been expressed in tobacco. Oral immunisation of mice with plant-derived MV-H protein resulted in MV-specific antibodies and secretory IgA, indicative of humoral and mucosal immune responses. In addition, boosting with oral plant-derived MV-H protein following a MV-H DNA prime, resulted in a greater response than could be induced with either vaccine alone. Collectively, this research represents a significant step towards an effective oral measles vaccine that would be temperature-stable, easy to administer and amenable to inexpensive manufacture.