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.

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.

Infectious diseases are still a major threat to public health. The vaccine remains the most important and safer way of combating infectious diseases. Therefore, there is an urgent need to look for new ways of vaccine generation that can cut down production costs and processing time. The development of rDNA technology allows the expression and purification of proteins in unlimited quantity, thus opening an avenue for the development of protein-based vaccines as a prophylactic measure against infectious diseases. Recombinant therapeutic proteins derived from biological sources, including mammalian cells, microorganisms, suspension cultures, or genetically modified organisms by employing biotechnological processes, are widely used in clinical applications, especially for the treatment and prevention of human or veterinary infections. Since the development of human insulin by utilizing recombinant DNA technology in E. coli in the 1980s, the recombinant therapeutic protein production field has significantly grown and gained major attention. Plant molecular farming, the production of biologics in plant cells or transgenic plants, could offer a cost-effective adaptable strategy to produce biologics, particularly in low-resource settings. Molecular farming-based strategies could provide an alternative strategy to traditional biologics or vaccine production, enabling rapid development, effective deployment, and safe administration of vaccines. The concept of PMF was initially documented three decades back when recombinant growth hormone was produced in tobacco and sunflower plants. Even with such a long history of significant advantages and several proof-of-concept studies, very few plant-derived therapeutic products have been clinically translated. However, the recent progress around the approval of the plant-based biopharmaceutical ZMapp by the FDA, Medicago’s COVID-19 vaccine by Health Canada, and the safety of a few plant-derived vaccines in clinical trials have displayed the potential of a plant platform for biopharmaceutical production. Furthermore, constant efforts are being made with respect to the optimization of expression techniques, downstream processing, and defining standard guidelines for plant products to make an impact of plant-derived products on an array of applications.

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.

Gathering some 90 entries from the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, this book covers animal breeding and genetics for food, crop science and technology, ocean farming and sustainable aquaculture, transgenic livestock for food and more.

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 book presents a comprehensive overview of the use of microorganisms and microbial metabolites as a future sustainable basis of agricultural, environmental and industrial developments. It provides a holistic approach to the latest advances in the utilization of various microorganism bioprospecting including their wide range of applications, traditional uses, modern practices, and designing strategies to harness their potential. In addition, it highlights advanced microbial bioremediation approaches, including genetic manipulation, metagenomics analysis and bacteriophage-based sensors for the detection of food-borne pathogens. Lastly, it elaborates on the latest advances regarding the role of microbes in the sustainable development of various industrial products.

This book explores the journey of biotechnology, searching for new avenues and noting the impressive accomplishments to date. It has harmonious blend of facts, applications and new ideas. Fast-paced biotechnologies are broadly applied and are being continuously explored in areas like the environmental, industrial, agricultural and medical sciences. The sequencing of the human genome has opened new therapeutic opportunities and enriched the field of medical biotechnology while analysis of biomolecules using proteomics and microarray technologies along with the simultaneous discovery and development of new modes of detection are paving the way for ever-faster and more reliable diagnostic methods. Life-saving bio-pharmaceuticals are being churned out at an amazing rate, and the unraveling of biological processes has facilitated drug designing and discovery processes. Advances in regenerative medical technologies (stem cell therapy, tissue engineering, and gene therapy) look extremely promising, transcending the limitations of all existing fields and opening new dimensions for characterizing and combating diseases.

The vaccine used to protect humans against the anthrax disease, called Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA), was licensed in 1970. It was initially used to protect people who might be exposed to anthrax where they worked, such as veterinarians and textile plant workers who process animal hair. When the U. S. military began to administer the vaccine, then extended a plan for the mandatory vaccination of all U. S. service members, some raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of AVA and the manufacture of the vaccine. In response to these and other concerns, Congress directed the Department of Defense to support an independent examination of AVA. The Anthrax Vaccine: Is It Safe? Does It Work? reports the study's conclusion that the vaccine is acceptably safe and effective in protecting humans against anthrax. The book also includes a description of advances needed in main areas: improving the way the vaccine is now used, expanding surveillance efforts to detect side effects from its use, and developing a better vaccine.