Contributions of the international plant science community to the fight against human infectious diseases – part 1: epidemic and pandemic diseases
Open Access
- 28 June 2021
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Plant Biotechnology Journal
- Vol. 19 (10), 1901-1920
- https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13657
Abstract
Infectious diseases, also known as transmissible or communicable diseases, are caused by pathogens or parasites that spread in communities by direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated materials, through droplets and aerosols, or via vectors such as insects. Such diseases cause ~17% of all human deaths and their management and control places an immense burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Traditional approaches for the prevention and control of infectious diseases include vaccination programs, hygiene measures, and drugs that suppress the pathogen, treat the disease symptoms, or attenuate aggressive reactions of the host immune system. The provision of vaccines and biologic drugs such as antibodies is hampered by the high cost and limited scalability of traditional manufacturing platforms based on microbial and animal cells, particularly in developing countries where infectious diseases are prevalent and poorly controlled. Molecular farming, which uses plants for protein expression, is a promising strategy to address the drawbacks of current manufacturing platforms. In this review article, we consider the potential of molecular farming to address healthcare demands for the most prevalent and important epidemic and pandemic diseases, focusing on recent outbreaks of high-mortality coronavirus infections and diseases that disproportionately affect the developing world.Keywords
Funding Information
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (UIDB/04551/2020 (GREEN‐IT ‐ Bioresources for Susta)
- Bayer
- Generalitat de Catalunya (Grups Consolidats 2017‐SGR828)
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (AGL2017‐85377‐R, PGC2018‐097655‐B‐I00, RTI2018‐097613‐B‐I00)
- H2020 European Research Council (ERC‐ADG‐2014, 669982)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/L020955/1, BBS/E/J/000PR9794)
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