Detailed study of Edible vaccines

1. EDIBLE VACCINES

2. • Edible vaccines are engineered vaccines that
refers to any foods, typically plants that
produces vitamins, proteins and develop the
immune system to defend the pathogen
• These are nothing but transgenic plant that
trigger an immune response.
• In simple terms, edible vaccine is plant or animal
made pharmaceuticals.
• The concept of edible vaccines was developed
by Amtzen in the 1990s.

3. • In initial traditional vaccines and later
development of newer, safer and highly effective
vaccines, such as recombinant vaccines, subunit
vaccines, peptide vaccines DNA vaccines or
developed but these vaccines have storage and
transport problem and also expensive. So, an
alternate cheap, safe and efficient production
system for vaccine is required, then the concept
of edible vaccines arises.

5. Mode of Action
• Epitope present in edible vaccines (fruits)
• Recognized and absorbed by M-cells of
Intestine and passed through various immune
cells like B-cells, T-cells
• As a result they elicit a defense mechanism
against part of antigen as if real infectious
agent has attacked the body

6. • This in turn produces memory cells which can
identify and neutralize the real infectious agent
in the future

7. Methods of Gene Transfer
• Agrobacterium tumefaciens method
• Particle gun method

10. Advantages:
• These are cheap, these can produce in large
quantity.
• These can be ingested by eating plant / part of
plant, so purification is not required.
• Extensive storage facilities like deep freezer cold
storage are not required.
• Edible vaccines can be produced locally, so
need of transportation and distribution can be
eliminated.
• Edible vaccines trigger immunity at mucosal
surface, which is first line of defense.

11. Disadvantages of edible vaccines:
• Dosing of vaccine cannot be controlled.
• There is no separate dosing is available for
children and adults.
• People may develop allergy to fruit or vegetable
containing vaccines.