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.