Question

Explain the reason why an edible vaccine for HBV does not look likely to be produced and the attempt to produce an edible vaccine for HBV is acting as a test case for other edible vaccones. What does the HBV outcome mean for the future of edible vaccines in general?

Answer 1

The reason why an edible vaccine for HBV does not look likely to be produced can be attributed to the fact that the oral administration of the lyophilized tissue proved to be impractical as well as insufficient when tested for oral tolerance acquisition. The plants produced HBV antigens which proved to be highly immunogenic when tested initially, but the problem was that the yield of such antigens were very low and the cost of productivity were also much higher.

The attempts to produce an edible vaccine for HBV is acting as a test case for other edible vaccines because HBV edible vaccine is acting as a model system for all other edible vaccines. Starting from the factors affecting the production of an edible vaccine and the requirements such as effective plant tissue processing systems, antigen purification, preparation vaccines with long shelf life, elaboration of an definite formula of oral vaccines.

HBV vaccines as of now could be succesfully produced and expressed in transgenic system of plants. The HBV vaccine prove to be efficient, as well as safe and can be successfully administered orally. But, as of now, plant derived vaccines could partially replace present vaccines provided the oral formulations can provide a booster dose. Further research needs to be done such as selection of an accurate mucosal adjuvant etc.