Current advances in recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus vaccines in plants

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a highly infectious RNA virus that severely affects swine herds, causing respiratory and reproductive disorders with major global economic impact. Current first‐generation vaccines based on inactivated or attenuated viruses offer limited protection and may pose safety risks. Given the virus's high mutation rate and genetic variability, there is a growing need for safer and more effective vaccines. Plant molecular farming represents a promising alternative production system for second‐generation subunit vaccines, offering advantages in terms of cost, biosafety, and scalability. Recent studies have explored the coupling of PRRSV antigens to virus‐like (VLP) or nonviral self‐assembling protein nanoparticles (PNPs) to enhance immunogenicity. VanderBurgt et al. now provide a successful example of the production of both VLP and PNP vaccines against PRRSV in plants, with preliminary in vivo results showing encouraging immune responses.