Recombinant IgA production for mucosal passive immunization, advancing beyond the hurdles.
Vaccination is a successful strategy to proactively develop immunity to a certain pathogen, but most vaccines fail to trigger a specific immune response at the mucosal surfaces, which are the first port of entry for infectious agents. At the mucosal surfaces, the predominant immunoglobulin is secretory IgA (SIgA) that specifically neutralizes viruses and prevents bacterial colonization. Mucosal passive immunization, i.e. the application of pathogen-specific SIgAs at the mucosae, can be an effective alternative to achieve mucosal protection. However, this approach is not straightforward, mainly because SIgAs are difficult to obtain from convalescent sources, while recombinant SIgA production is challenging due to its complex structure. This review provides an overview of manufacturing difficulties presented by the unique structural diversity of SIgAs, and the innovative solutions being explored for SIgA production in mammalian and plant expression systems.
Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. vikram.virdi@psb.vib-ugent.be.|Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. vikram.virdi@psb.vib-ugent.be.
Vikram
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4346-2665
V
Virdi
Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.|Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
Paloma
P
Juarez
Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.|Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
Veronique
V
Boudolf
Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. ann.depicker@psb.vib-ugent.be.|Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. ann.depicker@psb.vib-ugent.be.
Ann
A
Depicker
D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
IgA purification; Immune prophylaxis; Molecular farming; Mucosal infections; Plant-based production; Topical application