Abstract
We describe the expression and immunogenicity of a recombinant chimeric protein (HAV VP1-Fc) consisting of human hepatitis A virus VP1 and an Fc antibody fragment using a replicating vector based on Beet curly top virus (BCTV) in Agrobacterium-infiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Recombinant HAV VP1-Fc was expressed with a molecular mass of approximately 68 kDa. Recombinant HAV VP1-Fc, purified using Protein A Sepharose affinity chromatography, elicited production of specific IgG antibodies in the serum after intraperitoneal immunization. Following vaccination with recombinant HAV VP1-Fc protein, expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 were increased in splenocytes at the time of sacrifice. Recombinant VP1-Fc from infiltrated tobacco plants can be used as an effective experimental immunogen for research into vaccine development.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Antibodies, Viral / blood
-
Cells, Cultured
-
Cross Reactions
-
Female
-
Genetic Vectors*
-
Hepatitis A virus
-
Immunization
-
Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / biosynthesis*
-
Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / immunology
-
Interferon-gamma / immunology
-
Interleukin-4 / immunology
-
Mice
-
Mice, Inbred BALB C
-
Nicotiana / genetics*
-
Nicotiana / virology
-
Plant Viruses / genetics*
-
Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
-
Plants, Genetically Modified / virology
-
Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
-
Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
-
Viral Structural Proteins / biosynthesis*
-
Viral Structural Proteins / immunology*
Substances
-
Antibodies, Viral
-
Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
-
Recombinant Fusion Proteins
-
VP1 protein, hepatitis A virus
-
Viral Structural Proteins
-
Interleukin-4
-
Interferon-gamma