Butyrylcholinesterase Expression in Plants

DARPA is seeking innovative research proposals that will demonstrate the ability to produce a recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (rBuChE) using the Nicotiana benthamiana plant-based expression platform that has the same pharmacokinetic profile as a plasma-derived human butyrylcholinesterase (hBuChE) butyrylcholinesterase. The funding is intended to establish the technical precedence for the use of the plant platform to generate a rapid and scalable form of pre-exposure therapeutic bioscavenger against organophosphate nerve agents. Funding is for basic research only. The anticipated period of funding is for 12 months.