Targeting of plant-derived vaccine antigens to immunoresponsive mucosal sites.

Most pathogenic microorganisms enter their host via the mucosal surfaces lining the digestive, respiratory and urino-reproductive tracts of the body. The most efficient means of protecting these surfaces is through mucosal immunization. Transgenic plants are safe and inexpensive vehicles to produce and mucosally deliver protective antigens. However, the application of this technology is limited by the poor response of the immune system to non-particulate, subunit vaccines. Co-delivery of therapeutic proteins with targeting proteins, such as the B subunit of the Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin (LTB), could increase the effectiveness of such antigens.