The development of a plant-based vaccine for measles

Vaccine. 2005 Mar 7;23(15):1859-65. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.11.018.

Abstract

Plant-based vaccination strategies have the potential to overcome the limitations of the current measles vaccine. The measles virus hemagglutinin (MV-H) protein has been expressed in tobacco. Oral immunisation of mice with plant-derived MV-H protein resulted in MV-specific antibodies and secretory IgA, indicative of humoral and mucosal immune responses. In addition, boosting with oral plant-derived MV-H protein following a MV-H DNA prime, resulted in a greater response than could be induced with either vaccine alone. Collectively, this research represents a significant step towards an effective oral measles vaccine that would be temperature-stable, easy to administer and amenable to inexpensive manufacture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Hemagglutinins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Measles / epidemiology
  • Measles / prevention & control
  • Measles Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • Measles Vaccine / immunology*
  • Organisms, Genetically Modified
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / immunology*

Substances

  • Hemagglutinins
  • Measles Vaccine