Engineering local Kenyan Irish potato varieties as carriers for edible cholera vaccines

Cholera is a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in low-resource areas where vaccine access is limited. Plant-based production of antigens, like the cholera toxin B subunit, presents a promising supplement for oral immunization. This study reviews the efficiency of Agrobacterium tumefaciens gene-mediated transformation method in expressing antigenic proteins in three farmer preferred Kenyan Irish potato varieties: Wanjiku, Sherekea, and Shangi. Aimed at maximizing gene expression, facilitating a scalable production platform for potential edible vaccines. Genetically engineered Irish potatoes represent a transformative innovation at the intersection of agriculture and biotechnology, offering a sustainable and cost-effective platform for vaccine production. Acting as bioreactors, transgenic Irish potatoes provide scalable, safe, and stable solutions to the challenges of traditional vaccine manufacturing, such as high costs, infrastructure demands, and dependency on cold chain logistics. Despite challenges like regulatory hurdles, public perception of genetically modified organisms, and technical barriers in antigen expression, ongoing research and development hold promise for overcoming these obstacles. By harnessing the power of molecular farming, scientists can produce vaccines and therapeutic proteins in potatoes, offering a near-user-site alternative to traditional production methods.