Uses for Recombinant Protein Drugs - Biotechnology and Your Health: Pharmaceutical Applications - page 78

and Pediatrix™ adds recombinant hepatitis B protein to the
isolated bacterial proteins and killed bacteria of the DPT shot and
inactivated poliovirus.
Stop and Consider
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a recombinant vaccine
produced with plants?
Researchers are working to produce recombinant proteins from
viruses in plants so that the leaves, fruit, or root (such as potatoes)
would be edible forms of vaccine. A vaccine that is eaten may be
more appealing and suitable than injections, particularly in poor
parts of world with limited access to skilled health-care profession-
als. But there are barriers to the development of plant vaccines.
First, there are technical issues. For example, would conditions
within the stomach allow the immune system to respond to the pro-
tein to provide protection? Additionally, some people are concerned
about the environmental and health risks of growing vaccine-
producing plants in fields. Could the food be safely processed and
shipped? While the development of plant-based vaccines has been a
research success since first reported in 1992, it remains uncertain
whether this form of biotechnology will eventually have a major
impact on public health.
TREATING HEART DISEASE
Heart disease, particularly clogged blood vessels, is also treated
with recombinant products. Alteplase (Activase ® ), a human recom-
binant protein that breaks down fibrin , is used immediately after a
stroke or heart attack to break down platelet-trapping clots in small
blood vessels of the heart or brain and thus improve the patient's
chances for recovery. Purified enzymes from bacteria are used for
the same purposes. Abciximab (ReoPro ® ), a monoclonal antibody to