Perspective Chapter: Natural Adjuvants for Mucosal Vaccines—The Promise of Tomatine as an Inherent Adjuvant in Tomatoes

Abstract

Certain natural immunostimulatory compounds inherent to plants, animals, and microorganisms, in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, have been reported to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines by conferring an adjuvant effect and/or possessing potent immunomodulatory properties acting as immunogens themselves. In this chapter, we summarize the current state of vaccine adjuvant development and application, encompassing a range of immunomodulatory compounds that improve protective immune responses and enhance vaccine efficacy. We place special focus on the effectiveness of tomatine, inherent to tomatoes, as a natural immunostimulant. We discuss the adjuvant- and immunomodulatory-properties of tomatine and its advantages in plant-based vaccine production, cost-effectiveness, development, safety profiles, and applications compared to other adjuvants and vaccine delivery systems. This chapter provides a futuristic overview and insights into the promise of tomatine for the development of safer, easily-scalable, sustainable, and more efficient vaccines.