Antibody-based pathogen resistance in plants

Genetic engineering can be used to create plants with enhanced resistance to disease. Several strategies have been developed and tested, including expression of pathogen-derived sequences, the modification and overexpression of endogenous resistance genes, and the expression of heterologous resistance genes from diverse sources. Another promising approach is the expression of recombinant antibodies that bind to and neutralize essential components of the pathogen and therefore interfere with its infection cycle. The impact of this approach depends on appropriate target selection, careful antibody design, subcellular targeting of the recombinant antibodies and antibody accumulation levels and stability. This review describes the current status of antibody-based disease resistance in plants, focussing on optimization and the remaining obstacles to its widespread use