Plant expressed vaccine or project GreenVax^[1] In 2005 DARPA’s Accelerated Manufacture of Pharmaceuticals (AMP) program was created In response to emerging and novel biologic threats.^[2] In 2009 DARPA offered a government contract for a Non-GMO plant-based systems expressing recombinant proteins, due to The 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic that highlighted the national need for rapid and agile vaccine manufacturing capabilities.^[3] The Texas A&M University and a Texas company have been awarded a $40 million U.S. Department of Defense grant to develop a plant expressed vaccine made from tobacco.^[4] While egg-based vaccines typically take more than six months to develop after a virus is isolated, the new process will take only four to six weeks.^[4] The vice chancellor for research at A&M System declared that if the project works it will be one of the largest and most capable vaccine facilities in the world.^[4] However the major problem is the public acceptance of this technology, many of the companies are looking for the FDA approval ^[5]

The plant-based vaccine production method works by isolating a specific antigen protein, one that triggers a human immune response from the targeted virus. A gene from the protein is transferred to bacteria, which are then used to “infect” plant cells. The plants then start producing the exact protein that will be used for vaccinations.^[6] Other uses of plant-expressed vaccines including the successful creation of edible bananas that protect against the Norwalk virus.^[7]

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