title: The Corn Smut ('Huitlacoche') as a New Platform for Oral Vaccines.
abstract: The development of new alternative platforms for subunit vaccine production is a priority in the biomedical field. In this study, Ustilago maydis, the causal agent of common corn smut or 'huitlacoche'has been genetically engineered to assess expression and immunogenicity of the B subunit of the cholera toxin (CTB), a relevant immunomodulatory agent in vaccinology. An oligomeric CTB recombinant protein was expressed in corn smut galls at levels of up to 1.3 mg g-1 dry weight (0.8% of the total soluble protein). Mice orally immunized with 'huitlacoche'-derived CTB showed significant humoral responses that were well-correlated with protection against challenge with the cholera toxin (CT). These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using edible corn smut as a safe, effective, and low-cost platform for production and delivery of a subunit oral vaccine. The implications of this platform in the area of molecular pharming are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juárez-Montiel
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero-Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monreal-Escalante
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becerra-Flora
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Schuyler S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Korban
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosales-Mendoza
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
authors.forename: Juan Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Bremont
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002771:Cholera / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000276:immunology*; D022121:Cholera Vaccines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D058634:Molecular Farming; D003313:Zea mays / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D022121:Cholera Vaccines; D002772:Cholera Toxin