BACKGROUNDTo clone the type common antigen gD of human herpes simplex virus I, II (HSV-I, II), the authors constructed recombinant expression vector Pmal-c2/gD and induced to express the fusion protein MBP-gD.

METHODSThe authors extracted HSV DNA,amplified gD gene by PCR assay and directly cloned it into prokaryotic expression vector pMAL-c2, then transformed it into E.coli DH5alpha. After proved to be correct by PCR, double enzyme digestion and sequencing, the fusion protein is induced to express by IPTG and detected by both Western blot and ELISA.

RESULTSThe constructed expression vector pMAL-c2/gD can be expressed with high efficiency. The product expressed was about 35.5% of the total bacterium proteins by SDS?PAGE analysis and was found nearly 39% as soluble protein,61% as inclusion in cytoplasm.

CONCLUSIONSThe authors constructed recombinant expression vector pMAL-c2/gD, the Western blotting result showed that the recombinant protein could be identified with gD specific monoclonal antibody DL6. Therefore the protein was of natural antigenic structure of gD.