Coursework Question(s):

Describe how you would use Agro-infiltration of leaves of the plant Nicotiana benthamiana to produce a protein-based vaccine based on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein?

Specific instructions:

Within your answer you should include:

· a description of the expression vector that you would design and construct.

· diagram(s) as appropriate to provide an overview of the expression clone construction process

· a description of the process of expressing your Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector construct transiently in N. benthamiana leaves via Agro-infiltration

· a description of the subsequent purification of the recombinant protein

· a description of briefly the formulation and delivery of the final vaccine

· an overview of the timescale from clone construction through transient protein expression to purification and vaccine formulation/delivery

· Your answer should include labelled diagrams. Figures/diagrams must be your own – either computer-drawn or hand-drawn images