Expression of a synthetic neutralizing epitope of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus fused with synthetic B subunit of Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin in rice endosperm

Mol Biotechnol. 2007 Mar;35(3):215-23. doi: 10.1007/BF02686007.

Abstract

Epitopes often require co-delivery with adjuvant and targeting proteins to enable recognition by the immune system, and this approach may also increase the efficacy of the antigen. In this study, we assess and describe the ability of transgenic rice plants to express a fusion protein consisting of the B-subunit of the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) and a synthetic core-neutralizing epitope (COE) of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), inducing an enteric disease that is seen most predominantly in piglets. Both components of the fusion proteins were detected with Western blot analysis. The fusion protein was determined to assemble into pentamers, as was evidenced by its ability to bind to GM1 gangliosides, and evidenced an average level of expression in a transgenic rice endosperm. This indicates that the expression system of the plant is capable of generating a sizable amount of antigen, possibly allowing for the successful development of an edible vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Primers
  • Enterotoxins / genetics*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epitopes / genetics*
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics*
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Oryza / genetics*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus / genetics
  • Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus / immunology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • DNA Primers
  • Enterotoxins
  • Epitopes
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli