The Plant Viruses and Molecular Farming: How Beneficial They Might Be for Human and Animal Health?

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 24; no. 2; p. 1533
• Main Authors: Zahmanova, Gergana, Aljabali, Alaa A, Takova, Katerina, Toneva, Valentina, Tambuwala, Murtaza M, Andonov, Anton P, Lukov, Georgi L, Minkov, Ivan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.01.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Animal health; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Monoclonal - metabolism; biologics; Biotechnology; Clinical trials; Enzymes; Expression vectors; Farm buildings; Farming; Genomes; Humans; Molecular Farming; Monoclonal antibodies; Nanomaterials; nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Peptides; plant molecular farming; Plant viruses; Plant Viruses - genetics; plant-derived vaccines; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; protein cages; Protein expression; Proteins; Public health; Reagents; Review; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Tobacco; Vaccines; Vaccines, Synthetic; Virus-like particles; virus-like particles (VLPs); Viruses; plant molecular farming; immune therapy; biologics; viral-based nanotechnology; plant-derived vaccines; virus-like particles (VLPs); nanomedicine; protein cages; drug delivery
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021533

Plant viruses have traditionally been studied as pathogens in the context of understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of a particular disease affecting crops. In recent years, viruses have emerged as a new alternative for producing biological nanomaterials and chimeric vaccines. Plant viruses were also used to generate highly efficient expression vectors, revolutionizing plant molecular farming (PMF). Several biological products, including recombinant vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, diagnostic reagents, and other pharmaceutical products produced in plants, have passed their clinical trials and are in their market implementation stage. PMF offers opportunities for fast, adaptive, and low-cost technology to meet ever-growing and critical global health needs. In this review, we summarized the advancements in the virus-like particles-based (VLPs-based) nanotechnologies and the role they played in the production of advanced vaccines, drugs, diagnostic bio-nanomaterials, and other bioactive cargos. We also highlighted various applications and advantages plant-produced vaccines have and their relevance for treating human and animal illnesses. Furthermore, we summarized the plant-based biologics that have passed through clinical trials, the unique challenges they faced, and the challenges they will face to qualify, become available, and succeed on the market.