A synthetic biology approach for consistent production of plant‐made recombinant polyclonal antibodies against snake venom toxins. Issue 3 (22nd September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Julve Parreño, Jose Manuel; Huet, Estefanía; Fernández‐del‐Carmen, Asun; Segura, Alvaro; Venturi, Micol; Gandía, Antoni; Pan, Wei‐song; Albaladejo, Irene; Forment, Javier; Pla, Davinia; Wigdorovitz, Andrés; Calvete, Juan J.; Gutiérrez, Carlos; Gutiérrez, José María; Granell, Antonio; Orzáez, Diego
• Is Part Of: Plant biotechnology journal. Volume 16:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 727
• Page End: 736
• Publication Date: 2017-09-22
• Subjects: recombinant polyclonal antibodies -- molecular pharming -- snake antivenoms; Plant biotechnology -- Periodicals; Plant genetic engineering -- Periodicals; 630.272
• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12823
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-7644

Abstract

Abstract: Antivenoms developed from the plasma of hyperimmunized animals are the only effective treatment available against snakebite envenomation but shortage of supply contributes to the high morbidity and mortality toll of this tropical disease. We describe a synthetic biology approach to affordable and cost‐effective antivenom production based on plant‐made recombinant polyclonal antibodies (termed pluribodies). The strategy takes advantage of virus superinfection exclusion to induce the formation of somatic expression mosaics in agroinfiltrated plants, which enables the expression of complex antibody repertoires in a highly reproducible manner. Pluribodies developed using toxin‐binding genetic information captured from peripheral blood lymphocytes of hyperimmunized camels recapitulated the overall binding activity of the immune response. Furthermore, an improved plant‐made antivenom (plantivenom) was formulated using an in vitro selected pluribody against Bothrops asper snake venom toxins and has been shown to neutralize a wide range of toxin activities and provide protection against lethal venom doses in mice.