Biopharming-Making Plants into Factories Gayatonde Varsha, Singh D.K., Reddy Patil Srihari, Vennela Prudhvi Raj* Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, I.ASc, BHU, Varanasi *Email: vprudhviraj.2@gmail.com
Online published on 15 December, 2016. Abstract The use of genetically modified (GM) plants to produce pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines is an emerging technology that offers a low-cost, large-scale alternative to current methods. The cultivation of pharmaceutical GM crops may pose risks such as the contamination of the food or food chain. A number of methods (such as growing crops in containment) can be employed to limit the risks but these can increase the cost of production. Through genetic engineering, plants can now be used to produce pharmacologically active proteins, including mammalian antibodies, blood product substitutes, vaccines, proteins, hormones, cytokines, and other therapeutic agents. Efficient substance production in plants involves the proper selection of host plant and gene expression system, including a decision as to whether a food crop or a non-food crop is more appropriate. Product safety issues relevant topatients, pharmaceutical workers, and the general public must be addressed, and proper regulation and regulatory oversight must be in place prior to commercial plantbased compound production. Common food plants like banana, tomato, rice, carrot, tobacco, alfalfa, A. thliana, lettuce, wheat, corn etc. have been used to produce drugs and desired molecular multiplication. (vaccines against certain diseases like hepatitis B, cholera, HIV, etc). Thus, the up-and down-regulation of desired genes which are used for the modification of plants have a marked role in the improvement of genetic crops. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed the plant based compunds produced and their significance, risks and solutions for biopharming. Top Keywords Genetically modified (GM), pharmaceutical GM crops, mammalian antibodies and vaccines. Top |