Abstract
Recombinant plant-derived pharmaceuticals have been investigated for the last two decades and some products will soon be brought to market. Since veterinary pharmaceuticals seem to be the front-runners of plant-derived vaccines, we selected one model subunit vaccine, the structural capsid protein VP60 against rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and analyzed the expression of three different sequences representing the VP60 open reading frame in potato plants. The generation of antigenic VP60 molecules in the leaf and tuber tissue of potato was tremendously enhanced by replacing virus-derived sequences with plant-optimized codons. In order to identify potentially undesirable alterations in the composition of these genetically modified food components, we studied their nutrient composition and nutritional value in comparison to two parental conventional breeding varieties (Albatros and Desiree). The largest differences in nutrient composition were found between the two conventional breeds and between conventional Desiree and its near-isogenic genetically modified potato plant, indicating that genetic modification as well as conventional breeding can influence nutrient composition. Nevertheless, most parameters of nutritional value seemed to be more affected by conventional breeding than by genetic modification.
Highlights
In recent years, predominantly transgenic plants of the so-called first generation, with input traits like insect resistance or herbicide tolerance, were generated, cultivated and analyzed [1]
Since veterinary pharmaceuticals seem to be the front-runners of plant-derived vaccines, we selected one model subunit vaccine, the structural capsid protein VP60 against rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and analyzed the expression of three different sequences representing the VP60 open reading frame in potato plants
In order to identify potentially undesirable alterations in the composition of these genetically modified food components, we studied their nutrient composition and nutritional value in comparison to two parental conventional breeding varieties (Albatros and Desiree)
Summary
Predominantly transgenic plants of the so-called first generation, with input traits like insect resistance or herbicide tolerance, were generated, cultivated and analyzed [1]. After 20 years of research, recombinant pharmaceutical plants or plant cells are still not on the market [7]. This might either be due to the inadequate expression level or uptake of the pharmaceuticals, as well as to the high production costs, which are mainly caused by the application process and the extensive risk assessment. Some plantderived recombinant pharmaceuticals established for the treatment of human diseases and veterinary vaccines are approaching commercialization [8]. Since the application of transgenic plant products to humans is still under great discussion, we can speculate that veterinary pharmaceuticals, and especially vaccines, will be the front runners in the process of commercialisation.
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