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Review
. 2023 Apr 27:1-6.
doi: 10.1007/s42535-023-00636-y. Online ahead of print.

Edible microalgae: potential candidate for developing edible vaccines

Merin Grace Jiji  1 , Merin Ann Ninan  1 , V P Thomas  1 , Binoy T Thomas  1
Affiliations
Review

Edible microalgae: potential candidate for developing edible vaccines

Merin Grace Jiji et al. Vegetos. .

Abstract

Infectious diseases are always a threat to all living beings. Today, in this world pathogens have no difficulty reaching anywhere. Every year new and deadly diseases are born and most of them are caused by viruses. Vaccines can provide lifelong immunity against infectious diseases, but the production cost of vaccines is unaffordable for a layman and traditional vaccines have certain limitations with storage and delivery. However, edible vaccines have shifted this paradigm and have received acceptance all over the world, especially in developing countries. Microalgae are one of the potential candidates for developing edible vaccines. Modifying microalgae as edible vaccines are gaining worldwide attention, especially in the world of science. Microalgae can augment the immune system as they are a promising source for antigen carriers and many of them are regarded as safe to eat. Moreover, they are a pantry of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other secondary metabolites like alkaloids, phenols, and terpenes. In addition, being resistant to animal pathogens they are less sophisticated for genetic modification. This review analyses the potential scope of microalgae as an edible vaccine source.

Keywords: Chloroplast; Edible vaccine; Immunostimulants; Microalgae.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestOn behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Graphical concept of edible vaccines from microalgae
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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