Plant Molecular Pharming and Plant-Derived Compounds towards Generation of Vaccines and Therapeutics against Coronaviruses

Abstract

The current century has witnessed infections of pandemic proportions caused by Coronaviruses (CoV) including severe acute respiratory syndrome-related CoV (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome-related CoV (MERS-CoV) and the recently identified SARS-CoV2. Significantly, the SARS-CoV2 outbreak, declared a pandemic in early 2020, has wreaked devastation and imposed intense pressure on medical establishments world-wide in a short time period by spreading at a rapid pace, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is a compelling need to combat and contain the CoV infections. The current review addresses the unique features of the molecular virology of major Coronaviruses that may be tractable towards antiviral targeting and design of novel preventative and therapeutic intervention strategies. Plant-derived vaccines, in particular oral vaccines, afford safer, effectual and low-cost avenues to develop antivirals and fast response vaccines, requiring minimal infrastructure and trained personnel for vaccine administration in developing countries. This review article discusses recent developments in the generation of plant-based vaccines, therapeutic/drug molecules, monoclonal antibodies and phytochemicals to preclude and combat infections caused by SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Efficacious plant-derived antivirals could contribute significantly to combating emerging and re-emerging pathogenic CoV infections and help stem the tide of any future pandemics.

Biosynthesized metallic nanoparticles: A new era in cancer therapy

“…Physicochemical techniques are used to create green synthetic metal NPs. [ 31 ] Because there are many phytochemical components in plant extract, which may also function as reducing and stabilizing agents when converting metal ions into metal NPs, [ 32 ] as shown in Figure 3, the process of producing NPs from plant extract is inexpensive and has a high yield. Researchers have found that green synthesized NPs are more pharmacologically active than other methods.…”

Recent advances in expression and purification strategies for plant made vaccines

“…For instance, Medicago Inc., a company utilizing plant-based transient expression systems, can produce the purified end-product of an influenza vaccine just three weeks after receiving the sequence (D'Aoust et al, 2008). Most recently, Medicago Inc. demonstrated the capability of using transient systems for the production of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza (Venkataraman, 2022). The data demonstrated consistent immunogenicity in human clinical trials (Ward et al, 2021).…”

Characterization of titanium dioxide nanomaterials synthesized from leaf extract of Pogostemon cablin Benth and their potential antifungal activity

“…Metallic nanoparticles are synthesized via chemical and physical methods like solid state, sol-gel, ultrasonic irradiation, hydrothermal, microwave, etc Recently, researchers have been focusing on green synthesis methods because of many disadvantages of physical and chemical processes, such as more energy consumption, uses of hazardous chemicals, and generation of heterogenous NPs. Many studies have reported that due to the many phytochemicals (phenolics, terpenoids, etc), plant extract can act as a reducing and stabilizing agent by converting metal salt into nano form [16,17]. There are many studies reported synthesis of metallic nanoparticles using plants extract of jasmine flower [18], papaya [19], Piper nigrum, Coriandrum sativum, Syzygium aromaticum [20], rosemary, ginger [21], Impatiens rothii [22], Terenna asiatica [23], Garcinia mangostana [24], Iranian propolis [25], mango [26].…”