A model system for edible vaccination using recombinant avidin produced in corn seed

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that transgenic plants can be utilized to produce subunit vaccines that are capable of eliciting protective immune responses. Expressing these subunits in edible plant tissues gives the potential for edible vaccines. Edible vaccines have many benefits over current vaccine technologies including increased safety, stability, economy, and efficacy. In these experiments, we have investigated the possibility of using corn seed as a production system for novel edible vaccines. We established that a model protein (avidin) produced in corn seed could elicit both serum and mucosal immune responses when fed to mice. In addition, we determined that differences in the feeding regime could be exploited to enhance the type of response obtained. Since unprocessed corn seed is not typically used as a human food source, we investigated the effects of processing on the ability of the recombinant avidin to stimulate the immune responses. Finally, we explored the possibility of using the heat-labile enterotoxin subunit B protein from Escherichia coli to potentiate the immune responses.