In recent years, plants have been increasingly explored for production of biomedicines and vaccine components. The two main advantages of plant systems are low cost and a greater potential for scalability as compared to microbial or animal systems. An additional advantage from the public health point of view is high safety compared to animal systems, which is important for vaccine production: there are no known plant pathogens capable of replicating in animals, and in humans in particular. A particular antigen or a protein has to be expressed in a plant using one of many available platforms; this antigen/protein subsequently needs to be purified or processed, and later formulated into a vaccine or a therapeutic; these need to be delivered to a human or animal body via an appropriate route. Naturally, all these vaccines and therapeutics must be subjected to regulatory approvals prior to their use. Thus, the challenge is to adapt plant-based platforms for production of cost-efficient biomedicals that can be approved by FDA for use as vaccine components or therapeutics which will be competitive against existing vaccines and drugs. This volume attempts to address the entire spectrum of challenges facing the nascent field of plant-based biomedicals, from the selection of an appropriate production platform to specific methods of downstream processing and regulatory approval issues.

The enormous progress made in plant genomics is opening the possibility of using plants as bioreactors for the production of pharmaceutical products, ranging from immunogens (single peptides to complex structures such as virus-like particles) to adjuvants, microbicides and monoclonal antibodies. This book includes 11 chapters spanning most of the issues involved in plant-based vaccine production, including intellectual property considerations and veterinary applications. In addition to the detailed description of antigen expression in different plant systems, adjuvant production and plant glyc.

Describing recent developments in the engineering and generation of plants as production platforms for biopharmaceuticals, this book includes both vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. It has a particular emphasis on targeting diseases which predominate in less developed countries, encompassing the current state of technologies and describing expression systems and applications. This book also includes a variety of vaccine case studies, protecting against pervasive infectious diseases such as rabies, influenza and HIV.

The book traces the roots of plant biotechnology from the basic sciences to current applications in the biological and agricultural sciences, industry, and medicine. Providing intriguing opportunities to manipulate plant genetic and metabolic systems, plant biotechnology has now become an exciting area of research. The book vividly describes the processes and methods used to genetically engineer plants for agricultural, environmental and industrial purposes, while also discussing related bioethical and biosafety issues. It also highlights important factors that are often overlooked by methodologies used to develop plants’ tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses and in the development of special foods, bio-chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The topics discussed will be of considerable interest to both graduate and postgraduate students. Further, the book offers an ideal reference guide for teachers and researcher alike, bridging the gap between fundamental and advanced approaches.

This comprehensive, authoritative treatise covers all aspects of mucosal vaccines including their development, mechanisms of action, molecular/cellular aspects, and practical applications. The contributing authors and editors of this one-of-a-kind book are very well known in their respective fields. Mucosal Vaccines is organized in a unique format in which basic, clinical, and practical aspects of the mucosal immune system for vaccine development are described and discussed. This project is endorsed by the Society for Mucosal Immunology. - Provides the latest views on mucosal vaccines - Applies basic principles to the development of new vaccines - Links basic, clinical, and practical aspects of mucosal vaccines to different infectious diseases - Unique and user-friendly organization

The book “Advances in Biotechnology” is about recent advances in some of the important fields that are ongoing in certain biotechnological applications. Biotechnology has been quite helpful in keeping pace with the demands of every increasing human population and in improving the quality of human life. Major biotechnological achievements associated with human welfare have been from the fields like genetic engineering; transgenic plants and animals; genomics, proteomics, monoclonal antibodies for the diagnosis of disease, gene therapy etc. Fourteen authoritative chapters written by experts having experience in academics and research on current developments and future trends in biotechnology have been empathized. The book provides a detailed account of various methodologies used in biotechnology i.e. High capacity vectors, DNA sequencing dealing with next generation sequencing, Molecular markers, DNA microarray technology, as well as Proteomics that have revolutionized biotechnology with a wide array of applications. The book not only presents a well-founded explanation of the topics but also aims to present up-to-date reviews of current research efforts, some thoughtful discussions on the potential benefits and risks involved in producing biotechnological products and the challenges of bringing such products to market. It will prove to be an excellent reference work for both academicians and researchers, indicating new starting points to young researchers for new projects in the field. The book is intended for biotechnologist, biologist, researchers, teachers and students of Biosciences and Biotechnology.

Transgenic plants present enormous potential to become one of the most cost-effective and safe systems for large-scale production of proteins for industrial, pharmaceutical, veterinary, and agricultural uses. Over the past decade, much progress has been made with respect to the development of vaccines, antibodies, and other therapeutic proteins. Bi

Immunopotentiators in Modern Vaccines provides an in-depth insight and overview of a number of most promising immunopotentiators in modern vaccines. In contrast to existing books on the subject it provides recent data on the critical mechanisms governing the activity of vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems. Knowledge of immunological pathways and scenarios of the cells and molecules involved is described and depicted in comprehensive illustrations. - Contributions from leading international authorities in the field - Well-illustrated, informative figures present the interactions between immunopotentiators and the host immune system - Each chapter lists advantages and potential hurdles for achieving a practical application for the specific immunopentiator

A single volume collection that surveys the exciting field of plant-made pharmaceuticals and industrial proteins This comprehensive book communicates the recent advances and exciting potential for the expanding area of plant biotechnology and is divided into six sections. The first three sections look at the current status of the field, and advances in plant platforms and strategies for improving yields, downstream processing, and controlling post-translational modifications of plant-made recombinant proteins. Section four reviews high-value industrial and pharmacological proteins that are successfully being produced in established and emerging plant platforms. The fifth section looks at regulatory challenges facing the expansion of the field. The final section turns its focus toward small molecule therapeutics, drug screening, plant specialized metabolites, and plants as model organisms to study human disease processes. Molecular Pharming: Applications, Challenges and Emerging Areas offers in-depth coverage of molecular biology of plant expression systems and manipulation of glycosylation processes in plants; plant platforms, subcellular targeting, recovery, and downstream processing; plant-derived protein pharmaceuticals and case studies; regulatory issues; and emerging areas. It is a valuable resource for researchers that are in the field of plant molecular pharming, as well as for those conducting basic research in gene expression, protein quality control, and other subjects relevant to molecular and cellular biology. Broad ranging coverage of a key area of plant biotechnology Describes efforts to produce pharmaceutical and industrial proteins in plants Provides reviews of recent advances and technology breakthroughs Assesses realities of regulatory and cost hurdles Forward looking with coverage of small molecule technologies and the use of plants as models of human disease processes Providing wide-ranging and unique coverage, Molecular Pharming: Applications, Challenges and Emerging Areas will be of great interest to the plant science, plant biotechnology, protein science, and pharmacological communities.