Plant Biology & Agricultural Sciences

Antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins) are complex proteins produced by vertebrates that detect antigens (or molecular patterns) on pathogens and certain dangerous chemicals to alert the adaptive immune system to the presence of pathogens. A plantibody is an antibody produced by plants that have had animal DNA encoding a specific human antibody known to neutralize a specific pathogen or toxin embedded in their DNA.

 

Antigens are substances that cause the immune system to produce antibodies against them. Antigenic peptides found in edible parts of plants can be used to prepare edible active vaccination. The first is to express antigens in transgenic plants, while the second is to develop antigenic peptides on the surface of plant viruses that could be used to infect host plants.

 

Antimicrobial compounds are abundant in nature. A number of plant-derived chemicals have been shown to have antibacterial effects. Antimicrobial chemicals produced by plants fall into four categories: phenols and polyphenols, terpenoids and essential oils, lectins and polypeptides, and alkaloids.