Springer Plant Biotechnology for Health: From Secondary Metabolites to Molecular Farming

In this book emphasis will be put in the relevance of Plant Biotechnology for producing compounds of pharmaceutical and industrial relevance specifically the contribution of in vitro plant cell cultures for producing recombinant proteins (molecular farming) and compounds produced by plants useful for human and animal health (secondary metabolites) will be discussed. Also the description of some process held by whole plants will be included. The aim will be to provide relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings for professionals and researchers working in the field of Plant Biotechnology, molecular farming and biochemical engineering. From the Back Cover In vitro plant cell cultures have provided a tool for studying plant metabolism and physiology and to explore productive processes of secondary metabolites. More recently, genetic engineering has allowed the use of in vitro cultures to modulate plant biosynthetic pathways and to express heterologous proteins of biomedical relevance. The aim of this book is to offer background information to students and researchers in the fields of Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Farming about the potential of in vitro cultures to perform phytofermentations and molecular farming. Also, the application of in vitro cultures for the production of specific secondary metabolites and recombinant proteins is reviewed. About the Author Dr María Alejandra Alvarez completed her studies at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. She graduated in Biochemistry in 1981, and Pharmacy in 1995, obtained a MS on Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology in 1986 and a PhD on Plant Biotechnology in 1994. She was lecturer in grade and post grade courses of Botany, Pharmacobotany, Biotechnology, Food Biotechnology and Galenic Pharmacy at Universidad de Buenos Aires, Universidad Nacional de La Plata and Universidad Maimónides. Dr Alvarez started working on the production of compounds of pharmaceutical interest in in vitro plant cultures in 1986, being the author of numerous scientific articles. Her research interests include chemotaxonomy, medicinal plants, production of secondary metabolites and molecular farming. Currently, she is a member of the National Council of Research and Technology (CONICET) from Argentina, Professor of Pharmacobotany and Pharmacognoscy and director of the Plant Biotechnology Group at Universidad Maimónides and Professor of Biology at Colegio Divino Corazón.