This document describes a student project that aims to create edible influenza vaccines using genetically engineered plant viruses. The plant viruses would be modified to produce fragments of the influenza virus within vegetables and fruits. People could be vaccinated by eating these plants, avoiding the need for injections. Benefits include no toxic adjuvants, cleaner production without medical equipment or personnel needed. The project involves selecting a plant virus vector, engineering it to carry influenza virus DNA, testing in plant cells, then growing and packaging the plants to develop an oral vaccine marketed especially to developing countries.

2. CATEGORY:
BIOENGINEERING AND
BIOTECHNOLOGY
PREMIO 2014-2015 organizzato da
Associazione LIFEBILITY
per la diffusione dell’ETICA sociale LIONS presso i giovani
e per favorire l’ingresso nel mondo del lavoro

3. BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
PROJECT N°9
Plant viruses and new care
Sara CIONCI - Salerno
PREMIO 2014-2015 organizzato da
Associazione LIFEBILITY
per la diffusione dell’ETICA sociale LIONS presso i giovani
e per favorire l’ingresso nel mondo del lavoro

4. “Plant viruses and new care ”
A revolution in the production and administration
of vaccines
EDIBLE VACCINES
Plant viruses can be genetically modified to
produce vaccines into vegetables and fruits.
activate both mucosal and systemic
immunity
009 – Plant viruses and new care / Sara Cionci

5. Purpose
To create edible influenza vaccines
in the form of plant extract
for oral administration
Influenza virus is a
widespread pathogen and
has an high infection rate
009 – Plant viruses and new care / Sara Cionci

6. Benefits
HEALTH: avoidance of potentially toxic adjuvants
used in traditional vaccines, like Aluminum
(neurotoxicity and autism)
ENVIRONMENT: cleaner production chains
No need of syringes and needles: this decreases
chances of infection and eliminates the need for
trained medical personnel.
High impact especially in developing countries.
Potential issues related to GMO are avoided
009 – Plant viruses and new care / Sara Cioncic

7. STEP 1 :
Research
• Selection of the plant virus we will use as
a vector of an Influenza virus portion
• Engineered vector will infect plants we
choose for the project; virus stability and
immunogenicity will be tested
• Quantitative evaluations
Fragment of
Influenza virus DNA
Into plant virus
DNA
Plant extract
we can use
as vaccine
Vector
introduced into
plant cells
009 – Plant viruses and new care / Sara Cioncic

8. STEP 2 :
Production
and
Marketing
• Realization of the greenhouses for the
growth of plants in optimal conditions
• Packaging vegetable extracts in
single-dose vials
• Promotion of the new vaccine in the
scientific community and the market
009 – Plant viruses and new care / Sara Cioncic

9. Flu shot
more than 10 million people are vaccinated
against Influenza virus every year in Italy
Pharmacies
- age> 65 years
-chronic diseases
ASL
Influenza virus kills 8500 people in Italy every year,
half a million all over the world
009 – Plant viruses and new care / Sara Cioncic

10. “Plant viruses and new care”
Plant virus we choose
can be engineered every year
in the same way to create the
new Influenza vaccine
In the future we can use the same plant virus
to produce many other medical products like
anticancer drugs, food supplements, etc.
009 – Plant viruses and new care / Sara Cioncic

11. “Feeding the planet”
009 – Plant viruses and new care / Sara Cioncic