Uses of Yerba Santa

Abstract

Methods of in vitro propagation of plants of the genus Eriodictyon are described, including, in particular embodiments, plants of the species E. californicum, E. trichocalyx and E. sessilifolium . Methods of producing transgenic plants of the genus Eriodictyon are also described, along with methods of producing recombinant proteins in such plants. Compositions and methods for administering recombinant proteins produced in these plants are also described.

1 . A transgenic plant of the genus  Eriodictyon.    
     
     
         2 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of  E. californicum, E. trichocalyx  and  E. sessilifolium.    
     
     
         3 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , which expresses a recombinant protein. 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic plant of  claim 3  wherein the recombinant protein comprises an avian influenza HA1 antigen. 
     
     
         5 . A method for transforming tissue from a plant of the genus  Eriodictyon  comprising the steps of:
 inoculating leaf tissue from an Eriodictyon plant with an  Agrobacterium  suspension diluted to about OD 600  0.005 to 0.5, the  Agrobacterium  containing at least one genetic component encoding a desired protein capable of being transferred to the transformable plant tissue and of directing the expression of the desired protein in the plant tissue;   co-cultivating the plant tissue with the  Agrobacterium;      transferring the plant tissue to recovery media containing an antibiotic for eliminating the  Agrobacterium ; and   selecting transformed plant tissue.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the plant species is selected from the group consisting of  Eriodictyon californicum, Eriodictyon trichocalyx  and  Eriodictyon sessilifolium.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the  Agrobacterium  suspension is diluted to about OD 600  0.03. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the co-cultivating of the plant tissue with the  Agrobacterium  suspension is for about 1 to 4 days at about 20 to 25° C. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the co-cultivating of the plant tissue with the  Agrobacterium  suspension is for about 2 days. 
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a recombinant protein in a transgenic plant of the genus  Eriodictyon  comprising the steps of:
 providing a transgenic plant that has been regenerated from a transformed plant cell or tissue of the genus  Eriodictyon  and that expresses a recombinant protein; and   recovering the recombinant protein expressed in the transgenic plant.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the recovery step further comprises obtaining an extract of the transgenic plant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the recovery step further comprises harvesting material from at least a portion of the transgenic plant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the at least a portion of the harvested material is edible. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the plant cell or tissue is transformed using an  Agrobacterium  system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the plant cell or tissue is transformed using the method of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the recombinant protein is selected from the group consisting of antigens, microbicides, antibodies, hormones, enzymes, blood components, interferons, and anticoagulants. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the antigen comprises a viral protein. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the protein comprises an avian influenza HA1 antigen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the microbicide comprises an antiretroviral. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the antiretroviral comprises griffithsin.