Biosynthesis of Recombinant Vaccines in Plant Expression Systems

The advances in genetic engineering have led to the emergence of a new branch of vaccinology—the development of recombinant subunit vaccines that initiate the formation of protective immunity against various diseases. One of the promising and actively developing systems for the expression of recombinant proteins for medical purposes are plants. This review provides a general overview of the formation of specific and nonspecific immunity, the functioning of humoral and cellular immunity, and the principles of creating recombinant vaccines. The development of vaccines for the prevention of such infections as influenza, coronaviruses, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, and noroviruses is considered in more detail, with examples of plant-derived recombinant proteins that prevent these diseases. The market for recombinant plant-based vaccines is assessed and examples of the most successful ones are given. Overall, the review aims to highlight the relevance of plant expression systems for the development of recombinant vaccine preparations and their potential for rapid response to emerging challenges in the field of infectious disease prevention.