Research Underway

Research is under way to make PLA from maize stovers, wheat straw, rice straw and other agricultural waste products. This development from agricultural products, apart from food production, opens up a whole new world for farmers with greater profitability and sustainable financial security on the farm.

The constant decline of grain prices from season to season and the uncertain return on farmers input costs will become something of the past. There will be no need for Grain SA to warm farmers to plant less grain because of surpluses, such as happened recently

biotechnology

If developed to its full potential, industrial biotechnology sourced from agricultural crops may have a larger impact on the world than health care and agricultural biotechnology. It offers businesses a way to reduce costs and create new markets while protecting the environment. Today new industrial biotechnology processes can be taken from laboratory study to commercial application in two to five years, compared up to a decade for drugs,” said Erickson.

Through recombinant DNA technology, he continued, scientists can use micro-organisms in new and exciting ways to manufacture polymers, vitamins, enzymes and transportation fuel. By harnessing the natural power of enzymes, industrial biotech companies can work with nature to move from a petroleum-based economy to a bio-based one.

Scientists have already succeeded in producing a polymer, polylactic acid (PLA), from maize kernels to manufacture products such as clothing, carpeting, bedding, upholstery and plastic – from which in turn car parts, eating utensils, cups and golf tees, among many others, are produced. The plastic is biodegradable and can be composted instead of being disposed of in landfills or incinerators.

Recombinant protein vaccine

A pathogen upon infection produces proteins, vital for its functions, which elicit an immune response from the infected body. The gene encoding such a protein is isolated from the causative organism and used to develop a recombinant DNA. This DNA is expressed in another host organism, like genetically engineered microbes; animal cells; plant cells; insect larvae etc, resulting in the release of the appropriate proteins which are then isolated and purified. These when injected into the body, causes immunogenic response to be active against the corresponding disease providing immunity against future attack of the pathogen.
Based on the proteins involved in evoking immune response recombinant protein vaccines are of two types:

Whole protein vaccines: The whole immunogenic protein is produced in another host organism which is isolated and purified to act as vaccines.

Polypeptide vaccines: It is known that in the immunogenic protein produced, the actual immunogenic property is limited to one or two polypeptides forming the protein. The other parts of the protein may be successful in evoking an immune response but do not actually cause the disease. For eg: in the case of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae, consists of three polypeptide chains like A1

oral vaccines

Oral vaccines:
The latest hot spot in the field of vaccine research is the development of vaccine which can be taken orally. Immunogenic protein of certain pathogens is found to be active when administered orally. The gene corresponding to such proteins is isolated and a gene construct is produced. This is introduced and expressed in a plant genome which results in production of such immunogenic proteins in the parts of the plant where it is expressed. These when fed into animals or mainly humans, the person becomes vaccinated against certain pathogen. Such vaccines are also known as edible vaccines. An exciting invention is production of ‘melt in the mouth’ vaccines that can be administered by placing them under your tongue which delivers it into the blood stream. The most important example is the production of flu vaccine by Bacillus which melts in the mouth. The tremendous benefit of such vaccines is the comfort of administration, low cost and ease of storage.

Dna Vaccines

It refers to the recombinant vaccines in which the DNA is used as a vaccine. The gene responsible for the immunogenic protein is identified, isolated and cloned with corresponding expression vector. Upon introduction into the individuals to be immunized, it produces a recombinant DNA. This DNA when expressed triggers an immune response and the person becomes successfully vaccinated. The mode of delivery of DNA vaccines include: direct injection into muscle; use of vectors like adenovirus, retrovirus etc; invitro transfer of the gene into autologous cells and reimplantation of the same and particle gun delivery of the DNA.
In certain cases, the responsible gene is integrated into live vectors which are introduced into individuals as vaccines. This is known as live recombinant vaccines. Eg: vaccinia virus. Live vaccinia virus vaccine (VV vaccine) with genes corresponding to several diseases, when introduced into the body elicit an immune response but does not actually cause the diseases