Dataset Information

A truncated hepatitis E virus ORF2 protein expressed in tobacco plastids is immunogenic in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To cost-effectively express the 23-ku pE2, the most promising subunit vaccine encoded by the E2 fragment comprising of the 3'-portion of hepatitis E virus (HEV) open reading frame 2 (ORF2) in plastids of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. SR1), to investigate the transgene expression and pE2 accumulation in plastids, and to evaluate the antigenic effect of the plastid-derived pE2 in mice.

Methods

Plastid-targeting vector pRB94-E2 containing the E2 fragment driven by rice psbA promoter was constructed. Upon delivery into tobacco plastids, this construct could initiate homologous recombination in psaB-trnfM and trnG-psbC fragments in plastid genome, and result in transgene inserted between the two fragments. The pRB94-E2 was delivered with a biolistic particle bombardment method, and the plastid-transformed plants were obtained following the regeneration of the bombarded leaf tissues on a spectinomycin-supplemented medium. Transplastomic status of the regenerated plants was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis, transgene expression was investigated by Northern blot analysis, and accumulation of pE2 was measured by ELISA. Furthermore, protein extracts were used to immunize mice, and the presence of the pE2-reactive antibodies in serum samples of the immunized mice was studied by ELISA.

Results

Transplastomic lines confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis could actively transcribe the E2 mRNA. The pE2 polypeptide was accumulated to a level as high as 13.27 microg/g fresh leaves. The pE2 could stimulate the immunized mice to generate pE2-specific antibodies.

Conclusion

HEV-E2 fragment can be inserted into the plastid genome and the recombinant pE2 antigen derived is antigenic in mice. Hence, plastids may be a novel source for cost-effective production of HEV vaccines.

SUBMITTER: Zhou YX

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4066044 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A truncated hepatitis E virus ORF2 protein expressed in tobacco plastids is immunogenic in mice.

Zhou Yuan-Xiang YX Lee Maggie Yuk-Ting MY Ng James Ming-Him JM Chye Mee-Len ML Yip Wing-Kin WK Zee Sze-Yong SY Lam Eric E

World journal of gastroenterology 20060101 2

<h4>Aim</h4>To cost-effectively express the 23-ku pE2, the most promising subunit vaccine encoded by the E2 fragment comprising of the 3'-portion of hepatitis E virus (HEV) open reading frame 2 (ORF2) in plastids of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. SR1), to investigate the transgene expression and pE2 accumulation in plastids, and to evaluate the antigenic effect of the plastid-derived pE2 in mice.<h4>Methods</h4>Plastid-targeting vector pRB94-E2 containing the E2 fragment driven by rice psbA prom ...[more]

PMID: 16482635

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Project description:BackgroundHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a causative agent of acute hepatitis among people of different age groups and has high mortality rate of up to 30% among pregnant women. Therefore, primary prevention of HEV infection is essential.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to obtain the highly purified truncated open reading frames 2 (ORF2) protein, which might be a future HEV vaccine candidate.Materials and methodsThe truncated orf2 gene (orf2.1), encoding the 112-660 amino acid of HEV capsid protein sequence, was optimized, synthesized, and cloned into pBluescript II SK(+) vector. After subcloning into expression vector pET-30a (+), a 193-nucleotide fragment was deleted from the construct and the recombinant plasmid pET-30a-ORF2.2 (orf2.2 encodes 112-608 amino acid sequence of HEV capsid protein) was constructed and used for transformation of Escherichia coli BL21 cells. After induction with isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and optimizing the conditions of expression, the target protein was highly expressed and purified by Ni(2+)-chelate affinity chromatography. The expressed and purified protein was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting.ResultsThe subcloning was confirmed by PCR, restriction enzyme digestion, and DNA sequencing of recombinant plasmid pET30a-ORF2.2. The results obtained from optimizing the expression conditions showed that the highest expression of the protein was obtained by adding IPTG at a final concentration of 1 mM at 37℃ for four hours. The expression and purification of truncated ORF2 protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. SDS-PAGE analysis showed a protein band of about 55 kDa. SDS-PAGE of the purified protein revealed that the highest amount of target protein in elution buffer at the pH of 4.5 was obtained. The yield of the purified protein was about 1 mg/L of culture media.ConclusionsIn this study, the optimized truncated ORF2 protein was expressed in E. coli successfully and the highly purified protein was obtained, which can be a potential vaccine candidate and as an antigen in ELISA to diagnose HEV infections.

Project description:Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute hepatitis in humans, which can progress to chronicity in immunosuppressed individuals. Almost all reported HEV infections are caused by Paslahepevirus balayani genotypes 1-4. The structural ORF2 protein is the major antigen detected in the blood of HEV-infected individuals. ELISA assays to detect IgM antibodies to HEV are the first-line diagnostic tests; however, they showed variable performance with frequently discordant results. A qualitative HEV antigen (ORF2) ELISA is currently available for research use. Here, we report a novel quantitative sandwich ELISA to measure HEV ORF2 protein in 3 matrix types. An optimal pair of capture and detection antibodies was selected among 12 unique combinations tested. A sandwich ELISA protocol was developed using these mAbs and biotin-streptavidin technology. The protocol was further optimized to quantify ORF2 antigen in different matrices by interpolating from a standard curve with a linear range of 3.17 to 50.8 femtomoles/mL. Using this method, ORF2 protein was detected in the cell culture medium of Huh7 cells as early as 2-3 days after transfection with HEV genome RNA and in a medium of human hepatocytes infected with HEV. ORF2 antigen was readily detected in the first 2 weeks post-HEV infection in gerbil sera. In immunosuppressed gerbils, ORF2 was detected up to 6 weeks, and the levels were significantly higher between 3 and 6 weeks post-infection. HEV ORF2 antigen levels showed a strong positive correlation with HEV RNA levels in both cell culture medium and gerbil sera. Our novel sandwich ELISA detected at least 7.3 femtomoles/mL ORF2 protein in human plasma spiked with cell culture propagated HEV and detected ORF2 protein in human plasma samples that tested positive for HEV RNA but negative for anti-HEV antibodies. Further, the assay was nonreactive, with negative human plasma, and HBV or HCV-positive human plasma demonstrating specificity. Overall, our ORF2 antigen ELISA will be useful for quantifying ORF2 antigen in cell culture medium, gerbil serum, and human plasma. Further studies are warranted to evaluate its utility in HEV clinical diagnosis.

Dataset Information

A truncated hepatitis E virus ORF2 protein expressed in tobacco plastids is immunogenic in mice.

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

A truncated hepatitis E virus ORF2 protein expressed in tobacco plastids is immunogenic in mice.

Similar Datasets

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