title: Human-derived, plant-produced monoclonal antibody for the treatment of anthrax.
abstract: The unpredictable nature of bio-terrorism compels us to develop medical countermeasures that will enable authorities to treat individuals exposed to agents such as anthrax. We report the feasibility of producing a protective, human-derived, monoclonal antibody directed against the protective antigen (PA) of Bacillus anthracis in plants. This was achieved by transient expression using agroinfiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The resulting antibody was able to neutralize toxin activity in vitro and in vivo at a comparable level to that seen for its hybridoma-produced counterpart.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, 9 Innovation Way Suite 200, Newark, Delaware, DE 19711, USA.
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Criscuolo
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mett
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Groen
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steeman
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Westra
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Legutki
authors.forename: Les
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baillie
authors.forename: Vidadi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yusibov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; C030325:anthrax toxin