Researchers have discovered the pathway of a chemical compound form of saponins by sequencing the genome of the soapy tree. This could lead to the development of sustainable adjuvants for the vaccine, promising more effective vaccines.
"tree-free" alternatives are still needed to meet the growing demand for saponin while preserving the trees that produce them. The chemical pathway to form these molecules was reconstructed in a dwarf wild tobacco plant called Nicotiana benthamiana tobacco using a fast and powerful technique.