Rapid and scalable plant-based production of a cholera toxin B subunit variant to aid in mass vaccination against cholera outbreaks.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) is a component of an internationally licensed oral cholera vaccine. The protein induces neutralizing antibodies against the holotoxin, the virulence factor responsible for severe diarrhea. A field clinical trial has suggested that the addition of CTB to killed whole-cell bacteria provides superior short-term protection to whole-cell-only vaccines; however, challenges in CTB biomanufacturing (i.e., cost and scale) hamper its implementation to mass vaccination in developing countries. To provide a potential solution to this issue, we developed a rapid, robust, and scalable CTB production system in plants.

Methodology/principal findings

In a preliminary study of expressing original CTB in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana, the protein w

SUBMITTER: Hamorsky KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3591335 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature