Plants as Biofactories to Produce Food, Medicines, and Materials for a True Green Revolution

Zarrelli, Armando

doi:10.3390/ijms23105827

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 7 publications

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“…Herein, we demonstrate that nanobodies produced in plants retain proper folding and functionality as previously reported in a yeast production system (Esparza et al, 2020), thus supporting the use of plants as cost-effective production platforms for therapeutic needs for emerging pathogens, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Biomolecule production is expected to exceed USD 100 billion in the next few years (Zarrelli 2022), and we posit that plant molecular farming of nanobodies, and other biologicals is an under-developed area that could support this market. Plant-based biomanufacturing technologies are currently being developed and improved, and use of these systems for biomolecule production is expected to grow substantially in the near future, especially with field grown plants that only require light, water and fertilizer (McDonald and Holtz 2020).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Plant production of high affinity nanobodies that block SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with its receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme

Pitino¹,

Fleites²,

Shrum³

et al. 2022

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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Nanobodies® (VHH antibodies), are small peptides that represent the antigen binding domain, VHH of unique single domain antibodies (heavy chain only antibodies, HcAb) derived from camelids. Here, we demonstrate production of VHH nanobodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in the solanaceous plant Nicotiana benthamiana through transient expression and their subsequent detection verified through western blot. We demonstrate that these nanobodies competitively inhibit binding between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain and its human receptor protein, angiotensin converting enzyme 2. There has been significant interest and a number of publications on the use of plants as biofactories and even some reports of producing nanobodies in plants. Our data demonstrate that functional nanobodies blocking a process necessary to initiate SARS-CoV-2 infection into mammalian cells can be produced in plants. This opens the alternative of using plants in a scheme to rapidly respond to therapeutic needs for emerging pathogens in human medicine and agriculture.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Plant production of high affinity nanobodies that block SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with its receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme

Pitino¹,

Fleites²,

Shrum³

et al. 2022

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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An ethnobotanical study of medicinal and wild food plants in Kırşehir (Türkiye)

Ulcay

2024

An. Jard. Bot. Madr.

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This study compiles information regarding the use of certain plants found in Kırşehir and its surrounding regions in the Central Anatolia Region in folk medicine and other ethnobotanical characteristics. A total of 180 people participated in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the participants. As a result of the study, demographic characteristics of the participants, types of medicinal plant used by the people of the region, preparation techniques, usage patterns and frequency were determined. Local people benefit from 80 plants belonging to 28 families. The most commonly encountered medicinal plant family was Asteraceae (22 taxa). Twenty-two disease categories were identified in which traditional medicinal plants were used. Local people frequently use medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases. These include dermatologic ailments (ICF 0.87), hematology issues (ICF 0.98), high cholesterol (ICF 0.98), gastrointestinal problems (ICF 0.88). Medicinal plants are also employed for treating cancer (ICF 0.95), hand tremors (ICF 1.00), cataracts (ICF 1.00), and gonorrhea (ICF 1.00), and kidney stones (ICF 1.00). The highest UV was found for Mentha arvensis and M. pulegium. This research is important in terms of transferring traditional knowledge to future generations. Moreover, the findings obtained should be investigated in fields such as pharmacology and phytotherapy.

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Plants as Biofactories to Produce Food, Medicines, and Materials for a True Green Revolution

Abstract: A proper diet is the basis of a healthy life; according to the WHO, approximately 1/3 of cardiovascular diseases and cancers can be avoided with a balanced and healthy diet [...]

Cited by 2 publications

References 7 publications

Plant production of high affinity nanobodies that block SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with its receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme

Plant production of high affinity nanobodies that block SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with its receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal and wild food plants in Kırşehir (Türkiye)

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