Biosafety of plant viruses for human and animals

Abstract

Currently, virions and virus-like particles (VLPs) of plant viruses are considered as the basis for the development of new biotechnologies for human and veterinary medicine, including production of modern and safe vaccines, targeted delivery systems, and novel diagnostic preparations, as well as for production of therapeutic proteins in plants. Despite the fact that plant viruses cannot replicate in vertebrates, there are data that they are able to reproduce one or another phase of the infectious cycle in mammalian cells. Moreover, it was shown that plant viruses can be permanently present in a human and animal organism and can use it as a vector. In the review, the results of biocompatibility, toxicity, teratogenicity, and distribution of plant viruses are presented. Based on recent data, it can be affirmed that plant viruses are safe for humans and animals. It was shown that the virions are biodegradable and are easily eliminated from an organism of laboratory animals. Furthermore the virions and VLPs of plant viruses are highly immunogenic and presentation of antigenic determinant of human and animal pathogens on their surface allow to simulate a safe viral particle that is able to replace live attenuated vaccines.