The lethality of infectious diseases has decreased due to the implementation of crucial sanitary procedures such as vaccination. However, the resurgence of pathogenic diseases in different parts of the world has revealed the importance of identifying novel, rapid, and concrete solutions for control and prevention. Edible vaccines pose an interesting alternative that could overcome some of the constraints of traditional vaccines. The term “edible vaccine” refers to the use of edible parts of a plant that has been genetically modified to produce specific components of a particular pathogen to generate protection against a disease. The aim of this review is to present and critically examine “edible vaccines” as an option for global immunization against pathogenic diseases and their outbreaks and to discuss the necessary steps for their production and control and the list of plants that may already be used as edible vaccines. Additionally, this review discusses the required standards and ethical regulations as well as the advantages and disadvantages associated with this powerful biotechnology tool.

Seaweeds are emerging renewable biomass resources rich in valuable phytochemicals; however, effective stabilization strategies are required to enable their incorporation into sustainable food and bioprocessing applications. This study investigated the effects of convective drying (40–80 °C) and freeze-drying on the chemical composition and functional properties of the underexplored red seaweed Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii. The drying method significantly modulated nutrient retention, pigment stability, and bioactivity. Freeze-drying and high-temperature convective drying (≥70 °C) resulted in higher protein and saturated fatty acid contents but led to substantial losses of pigments and antioxidant capacity. In contrast, moderate convective drying (40–60 °C) favored the retention of minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential amino acids, and pigments, while enhancing total phenolic and flavonoid contents and improving antioxidant performance (DPPH and ORAC). All extracts exhibited dose-dependent α-glucosidase inhibition (25–58%) within a concentration range of 0.10–40.0 mg/mL, with freeze-dried samples showing the strongest inhibitory effect. Similarly, cytotoxicity assays conducted on A549 and AGS cancer cell lines at concentrations of 1.25–40.0 mg/mL revealed that freeze-dried extracts consistently displayed the lowest IC₅₀ values. Overall, convective drying better preserved nutritional quality, whereas freeze-drying maintained higher biological functionality, revealing a process-dependent trade-off relevant to industrial biomass stabilization and functional ingredient development.

Prosopis chilensis and Prosopis tamarugo, two woody legumes adapted to the arid regions of Chile, have a declining distribution due to the lack of new seedling establishment. This study investigated the potential of both species to establish in soil collected from four locations in Chile, within and outside the species distribution, and to assess the role of the root-colonizing microbiome in seedling establishment and growth. Seedling survival, height, and water potential were measured to assess establishment success and growth. 16S and ITS2 amplicon sequencing was used to characterize the composition of microbial communities from the different soils and to assess the ability of both Prosopis species to recruit bacteria and fungi from the different soils. Both species were established on three of the four soils. P. tamarugo seedlings showed significantly higher survival in foreign soils and maintained significantly higher water potential in Mediterranean soils. Amplicon sequencing showed that the four soils harbored distinct microbial communities. Root-associated microbial composition indicated that P. chilensis preferentially recruited mycorrhizal fungal partners while P. tamarugo recruited abundant bacteria with known salt-protective functions. Our results suggest that a combination of edaphic properties and microbial soil legacy are potential factors mediating the Prosopis establishment success in different soils.