Antibody production and engineering in plants

Abstract

Plants have always been important in the pharmaceutical industry, and plant biotechnology now offers new applications. The use of heterologous expression systems for production of recombinant proteins including antibodies is no longer novel. Attention has now turned towards the end-user, and specifically to engineering the antibody to precise requirements. In expanding the choice of production systems, plants offer unique alternatives for antibody users not only in the bulk production of antibody molecules but also in the ability to assemble full-length and complex, multimeric antibodies. Although the initial investment of time and effort is substantial compared to that of other expression systems, antibody production on an agricultural scale can be envisioned, and the economy of this approach opens many new areas for potential antibody applications in addition to their traditional research and pharmaceutical uses.