A cross talk between the immunization and edible vaccine: Current challenges and future prospects

Abstract

Introduction: It is well known that immune system is highly specific to protect the body against various environmental pathogens. The concept of conventional vaccination has overcome the pandemic situation of several infectious diseases outbreak.

Area covered: The recent idea of immunization through oral route (edible vaccine) is vital alternatives over conventional vaccines. Edible vaccines are composed of antigenic protein introduced into the plant cells which induce these altered plants to produce the encoded protein. Edible vaccine has no way of forming infection and safety is assured as it only composed of antigenic protein and is devoid of pathogenic genes. Edible vaccines have significant role in stimulating mucosal immunity as they come in contact with digestive tract lining. They are safe, cost-effective, easy-to-administer and have reduced manufacturing cost hence have a dramatic impact on health care in developing countries.

Expert opinion: The edible vaccine might be the solution for the potential hazard associated with the parenteral vaccines. In this review we discuss the detailed study of pros, cons, mechanism of immune stimulation, various outbreaks that might be controlled by edible vaccines with the possible future research and applied application of edible vaccine.

Keywords: Adjuvants; Conventional vaccine; Edible vaccine; Mucosal immunity; Outbreak; Probiotic; Transformation.