PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Award Winner Charles Arntzen Advances Pharmaceutical Research in Plant Biology

Charles Arntzen receives the ASPB Leadership in Science Public Service Award from ASPB President Mary Lou Guerinot.

Charles Arntzen was on a trip to Latin America many years ago when he was alarmed to see the ravages of viruses causing human intestinal disorders. Symptoms of diarrhea from Norwalk virus and other viruses often lead to severe dehydration and death. Diarrheal diseases kill at least 2 million people in the world each year, most of them children.

During that visit, Arntzen looked over at flourishing banana trees and the thought struck him, “Why doesn’t somebody modify a new variety of bananas that contains a vaccine to prevent these diseases?” Arntzen speculated that such a modified banana would bypass the roadblocks that currently impede many vaccinations, such as the high cost of development and production of vaccines, requirements for refrigeration, and the need for highly skilled health personnel to administer vaccines using sanitary syringes.

The fact that a plant producing oral dosages of vaccines had not been engineered before did not deter Arntzen from initiating his research efforts in this area. After his initial success in transforming a banana, which has a long harvest time, Arntzen began use of potatoes for the first human clinical trial of a plant modified to produce a vaccine. As he had hoped, the immune systems of human participants did develop antibodies after those participating in the test had munched on modified raw potatoes, a historic success in pharmaceutical research.

After completing a five-year commitment as president of the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Arntzen accepted a position at Arizona State University as Florence Ely Nelson Presidential Endowed Chair. He serves as the co-director of the Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology of the Arizona Biodesign Institute.

As Arntzen explained to ASPB annual meeting attendees on July 24, the focus of his research has now moved to the tomato. Tomatoes are grown around the world in contained areas (greenhouses), he noted. Much is already known about the biology of a tomato. Tomato fruit processing is well characterized with standard food industry protocols in place. Tomatoes can be developed that provide color identification. Genetic containment can be achieved through producing male-sterile, seedless tomatoes. Another option in containment of pharmaceutical-producing plants is the use of root cultures, Arntzen noted. He noted that several safeguards are in place to assure confinement of pharmaceutical-producing plants.

Although vaccines are high on the social value curve, they are low in economic value to pharmaceutical companies, Arntzen noted. He said that often vaccines are primarily needed to fight diseases found in poor nations. The people there generally cannot afford to pay for a vaccination.

Arntzen sees major advances in vaccine research, production, and administration through the use of biotechnology in developing pharmaceutical-producing plants. Plants broaden the bio-manufacturing base. Production of vaccines in plants is more cost-effective and safer than with older methods of vaccine development and production. Plant production can lead to a better vaccine product, Arntzen noted.

“We’ve heard endless stories from the World Health Organization (WHO) of instances when refrigeration of vaccines wasn’t maintained and they lost their effectiveness,” Arntzen said. He said the plant-produced vaccines he is developing will be heat-stable without the need for refrigeration. These vaccines will also need only oral administration instead of use of syringes for injections.

Arntzen also sees broadened opportunities for plant-produced vaccines. He is now supported by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense in research to develop vaccines for Ebola and smallpox. His knowledge of plant biology has come through earlier years of support from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Biosciences program, and Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative and Agricultural Research Service.

For centuries, the road to discovering vaccines has not been an easy one. It has been 207 years since Edward Jenner submitted his study on smallpox vaccinations that was rejected without comment by the Royal Society’s Philosophical Transactions. Jenner subsequently self-published his study, titled “Inquiry,” which established the foundation of preventive medicine and immunology. 

Arntzen has demonstrated ample reason to believe that modern plant science can improve on the technology for vaccine discovery, production, and administration. In the process, he has helped change the way researchers now look at the enormous opportunities plant research offers for new lifesaving pharmaceutical therapies.

Arntzen’s distinguished record of research has attracted the attention of the White House. In 2001, he was appointed as a member of President George W. Bush’s Council of Advisors on Science & Technology in the Office of Science and Technology Policy (PCAST), where he participated on the task force on bioterrorism threat reduction technology and currently co-chairs a nanotechnology task force. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

ASPB President Mary Lou Guerinot presented the ASPB Leadership in Science Public Service Award to Arntzen in a ceremony held immediately before his presentation on his research. Guerinot was introduced by Committee on Public Affairs Chair Thomas Sharkey.

“The ASPB Leadership in Science Public Service Award is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to science and humanity,” Guerinot commented. “We’re honored to recognize this year an eminent scientist, humanitarian, and friend who exemplifies the vast and varied potential the study of plant science offers.

“Charlie is the recipient of many distinguished awards, including his recognition from ASPB. He received the Charles Albert Shull Award in 1979 and the Dennis Robert Hoagland Award in 1994.

“Charlie’s primary research interests are in plant molecular biology and protein engineering, as well as the utilization of plant biotechnology for enhancement of food quality and value, for expression of pharmacologically active products in transgenic plants, and for overcoming health and agricultural constraints in the developing world. He has been recognized as a pioneer in the development of plant-based vaccines for human disease prevention (with special emphasis on needs of underdeveloped countries) and for disease prevention in animal agriculture; recently, this research has been extended to creation of effective vaccines against biowarfare agents.

“Through his innovative research, Charlie has led the way in changing how people perceive the potential for pharmaceutical production from plants. His research is leading to vaccines that could save millions of people throughout the world from life-threatening diseases.

“Charlie’s vision, knowledge, and strength of purpose combined with his driving sense of goodwill offer hope to the most vulnerable of our world neighbors. We’re all proud to have him as a friend and colleague. We are delighted to recognize Charles Arntzen with the 2004 ASPB Leadership in Science Public Service Award.”

Past years’ recipients of the ASPB Leadership in Science Public Service Award are Alexander von Humboldt Award for Agriculture winner Dr. Dennis Gonsalves; Nobel Laureate for Peace and father of the Green Revolution Dr. Norman Borlaug; Dr. Ingo Potrykus, whose discoveries produced Golden Rice to combat human blindness and other afflictions; Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Gordon Conway; and U.S. Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO).