A new highly effective anticysticercosis vaccine expressed in transgenic papaya

• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.02.080
• Publication Date: 2007-03-19T16:52:09Z
• Authors: Marisela Hernández; José Luis Cabrera...; Gladis Fragoso; Fernando López-Ca...; Arturo Guevara-Ga...; Gabriela Rosas; Claudia León-Ramírez; Patricia Juárez; Guadalupe Sánchez...; Jaquelynne Cervantes; Gonzalo Acero; Andrea Toledo; Carmen Cruz; Rafael Bojalil; Luis Herrera-Estr...; Edda Sciutto
• Keywords: Life Cycle Stages; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Vaccines, Synthetic; 0303 health sciences; Carica; Cysticercosis; Cysticercus; Plants, Genetically Modified; 3. Good health; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Models, Animal; Vaccines, Subunit; Animals; Female; Peritoneal Cavity

The use of transgenic plants as new antigen-delivery systems for subunit vaccines has been increasingly explored. We herein report progress toward a papaya-based vaccine against cysticercosis. Synthetic peptides (KETc1, KETc12, KETc7) were successfully expressed in 19 different transgenic papaya clones and found to be immunogenic. Complete protection against cysticercosis was induced with the soluble extract of the clones that expressed the higher levels of transcripts in up to 90% of the immunized mice. This study represents a key step towards the development of a more effective, sustainable and affordable oral subunit vaccine against human and pig cysticercosis.