Plant derived veterinary vaccines.

Infectious diseases remain one of the main causes of death and economic losses in animals despite the fact that prophylactic vaccination has been extremely successful in disease prevention. New effective viral, bacterial and parasitic vaccines are needed, but unfortunately production costs still remain prohibitive. In this respect plants can offer a valid alternative. Production of antigenic proteins in plants relies on a well developed and proven technology, several expression platforms are available and many different plant species can be utilized. Plant based veterinary vaccine studies have addressed protection issues in model animals and, more interestingly, some of them have examined the relevant challenge model in the specific species of interest. A general overview of the topic will be outlined together with a few selected promising examples.