Malaria remains a serious global health problem, causing high morbidity and mortality, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The development of effective and scalable vaccines is crucial for the control of this disease. This study investigates the application of Lemna minor (duckweed) as a novel, cost-effective, and sustainable bioreactor for the production of a chimeric circumsporozoite protein (CSP), a key antigen for malaria vaccine development. The synthetic CSP (CS712) was designed using duckweed-specific codon tables and codon-optimized to increase expression efficiency. Comprehensive bioinformatic analyses were performed to evaluate its physicochemical properties, antigenicity, allergenicity, and immunogenic potential. The optimized CS712 protein exhibited favorable properties, including high structural stability validated by Ramachandran plot and ProSA-Web, a PI of 5.31, and strong antigenicity (78.67%) without any allergenicity. Epitope predictions showed robust B and T cell responses, while molecular docking studies confirmed effective interaction with Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), highlighting its ability to activate innate and adaptive immunity. The results underline the potential of duckweed as a versatile plant platform for the production of recombinant vaccines. The CS712 protein proves to be a promising candidate for the development of a malaria vaccine and offers an innovative approach combining bioinformatic-based design and plant biotechnology. This study not only advances malaria vaccination strategies but also highlights the broader applicability of plant-based systems to address global health challenges through sustainable and scalable solutions.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Duckweed was utilized as a platform for recombinant protein production.
• A new chimeric circumsporozoite protein (CS712) from Malaria was optimized for expression in Lemna minor.
• The designed CS712 showed strong antigenicity and no allergenicity in bioinformatic analyses.
• Predicted epitopes highlighted robust B- and T-cell immune response potential.
• CS712 effectively interacted with TLR2, and could activate innate and adaptive immunity.

You can listen to the audio abstract here.

Consumer demand for safe and effective cosmetics has prompted the exploration of peptides due to their biocompatibility. However, challenges such as low skin permeability, susceptibility to degradation, and chemical instability limit their use. Additionally, regulatory and manufacturing complexities pose further hurdles. Strategies like chemical modifications, formulation adjustments, and advanced synthesis methods can help to overcome these issues. Notably, computational methods show promise in enhancing the efficacy and stability of peptide-based cosmetics.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Peptides are eligible molecules to be applied in cosmetic products since they are biocompatible and effective.
• There are obstacles that limit the widespread use of peptides in the cosmetic industry.
• Conventional and in silico techniques can be employed to overcome challenges on the path to commercialization of peptides.

You can listen to the audio abstract here.