Expression of rotavirus VP7 antigens in fusions with bacterial proteins

Abstract

We have cloned antigenic regions of the VP7 gene from rotavirus RV-5 into the lamB gene. The insertions discussed in this paper comprise 250bp of rotavirus DNA and cover the A and B antigenic regions of the protein. The fusion proteins are expressed and are present in the outer membrane: they react with anti-rotavirus antibody. However, as yet we have not been able to demonstrate that the fusion has LamB protein functions with regard to maltodextrins or L phage, and the fusion protein appears to exist in the outer membrane as a monomer rather than as a trimer.