Floral traits, including color, scent, morphology and longevity, are critical for pollinator attraction and aesthetic value. Notably, floral color and scent often exhibit synergistic variation durin.....

Les fleurs constituent l’un des “cartons” de l’histoire évolutive, représentant plus de 90% de la diversité végétale. Les composés volatiles qu'elles produisent sont mis à contribution par la parfumer...

Une heure dédiée à toutes les sciences, et à leurs problématiques éthiques, politiques, économiques et sociétales qui font l’actualité.

Key message First production of virus-like particles as a vaccine candidate in a non-vascular plant. Abstract Virus-like particles (VLPs) are self-assembling nanoparticles composed of viral structural proteins which mimic native virions but lack viral DNA and infectivity. VLPs are a resourceful class of biopharmaceuticals applied as subunit vaccines or as delivery vehicles for drugs and nucleic acids. Similar to viruses, VLPs are diverse in structure, composition, and assembly, requiring a tailored production platform aligned with the intended application. The moss plant Physcomitrella (Physcomitrium patens) is an emerging expression system offering humanized N-glycosylation, scalability, and adaptability to existing industry settings. Here, we used Physcomitrella to produce human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 VLPs. HPV VLPs are composed of the major structural protein L1 and are used as vaccines against HPV infections which are the main causal agent of cervical and other anogenital cancers. We characterized Physcomitrella chloroplast transit peptides, which we used for targeting of moss-produced L1 to chloroplasts, leading to higher recombinant protein yield compared to nuclear or cytoplasmic localization. We confirmed subcellular localization with confocal laser scanning microscopy and found L1 to accumulate within the chloroplast stroma. Production in 5-L photobioreactors yielded over 0.3 mg L1 per gram fresh weight. We established a purification protocol for moss-produced L1 using a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation and cation exchange chromatography. Purified samples were subjected to a controlled dis- and reassembly, yielding fully assembled HPV-16 L1 VLPs. This is the first report of production, purification, and assembly of VLPs in a non-vascular plant.

Lavandula angustifolia Mill. or true lavender is an emblematic plant from dry and calcareous hills of the south of France. Lavender essential oils obtained from inflorescences harvested at bloom st...

Abstract. Roses hold significant symbolic value in Western cultural heritage, often serving as a symbol of love and romance. Despite their ancient cultivat

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