Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the aetiological angent of a highly contagious viral disease. The complete gene encoding the structural protein of FMDV (P1) was subcloned into expression vector pGEX-KG, resulting in the fusion expression plasmid pKG-P1. After transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) and induced by IPTG, the results of SDS-PAGE showed that the GST-P1 fusion protein was expressed in high level. The molecular weight of the fusion protein wa 110kD and the expressed products were soluble. Western-blotting was performed to confirm that the expressed fusion protein could specifically react with antiserum against FMDV. The fusion proteins were further purified by GST purification kit and an indirect ELISA (P1-ELISA) based on the purified proteins was developed. Comparison between P1-ELISA and the standard indirect haemagglutinin assay showed the two methods had 87 per cent agreement by detecting 864 serum samples, indicating the purified P1 protein was specific as the antigen of indirect P1-ELISA.
Capsid Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

LTB gene fragment was amplified by PCR from plasmid pMDTLT, and a recombinant plasmid pETLTBVP1 was constructed by inserting LTB gene fragment into VP1 gene expression plasmid pETVP1 constructed previously. The recombinant plasmids were transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) and induced to express by IPTG. The recombinant protein existed in the inclusion body and its molecular weight was about 39 kD proved by SDS-PAGE analysis. Western blotting showed that the fusion protein could be reacted with both anti-FMDV and anti-cholera toxin serum demonstrating the immunoactivity of the fusion protein. Strong immune responses can be induced in mice inoculated with the fusion protein intraperitoneally, and the serum antibody level is higher than that of commercial foot-and-mouth disease vaccines.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; Female ; Gene Fusion ; genetics ; Mice ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

This paper is aimed to investigate the transcription and expression of BCR-ABL-pIRES-SEA fusion gene vaccines in vivo in mice. The reconstructed plasmids (BCR-ABL-pIRES-SEA) which were developed previously in our laboratory were injected into the skeletal muscles of BALB/c mice at 14d intervals for three cycles. The transcription and expression of BCR-ABL and staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in injection site were detected using RT-PCR and immunohistological methods. The BCR-ABL/SEA mRNA and protein could be identified in the injection site of BCR-ABL-pIRES-SEA vaccinated mice. The reconstructed BCR-ABL-pIRES-SEA plasmids can effectively express gene production in the skeletal muscles of mice and have the common features of DNA vaccine.
Animals ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Vaccines, DNA ; administration & dosage ; immunology

In order to amplify pilA gene and ompC gene of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strain, two pairs of primers were designed according to the GenBank sequences, and a 549 bp pilA gene and a 1104 bp ompC gene were obtained by PCR separately. Sequence analysis indicated that the homology of the nucleotide sequence of AEPC strain to those other reference strains was 98.18% of the pilA gene and 97.28% of the ompC gene. Two expression plasmids pETpilA and pETompC were constructed by inserting pilA gene and ompC gene into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a. The two plasmids were transformated into E. coli BL21 separately and two recombinant strains BL21 (pETpilA) and BL21 (pETompC) were obtained. The type 1 fimbraie and the out membrane protein were highly expressed when the recombinant strain BL21 (pETpilA) and BL21 (pETompC) were induced by IPTG Two specific proteins were detected by SDS-PAGE and immunogenicity of the expressed protein was confirmed by Western blotting and ELISA. The expressed fimbraie and OmpC were transformed into vaccine. The protective immune response was proved after the mice were immunized with the two vaccines. The results showed that the recombinant strain BL21 (pETpilA) and BL21 (pETompC) could be as candidate vaccine to provide protective immune response against AEPC infection.
Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli Vaccines ; immunology ; Fimbriae Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mice ; Porins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo express human HZF1 fusion protein in E. coli and to obtain an anti-HZF1 antibody.

METHODSA DNA fragment encoding non-zinc finger region of HZF1 protein was inserted into pET30a vector to get the recombination expression plasmid pET30a-HZF1. E. coli was transformed with pET30a-HZF1 and the selected clones were cultured with isopropy-beta-D-thiogalactoside induction. The proteins were prepared from the culture and the fusion protein was purified by Ni column. Rabbits were immunized and reinforced three times with the purified fusion protein. The antiserum was collected and the titer and the specificity of the antibody were checked by ELISA and Western blot.

RESULTSAntibody against HZF1 was obtained and its titer was more than 1:100 000, as proven by ELISA. Western blot analysis showed specific reaction between this antibody and HZF1 fusion protein or the endogenetic HZF1 protein in hemin-induced K562 cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe specific antibody against HZF1 is obtained. The antibody may have potential application in farther HZF1 function study and HZF1 determination in tissues and cells.

DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Immune Sera ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Transformation, Bacterial

Transmembrane protein p185 (the product of Her2/c-erbB-2 gene) is a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family. Its overexpression was found in about 30% of breast cancer. It is essential to obtain soluble extracellular domain (ECD) of p185, especially disulfide bond rich domains, for identifying the epitopes of anti-p185 antibodies and researching the interrelationship between the antigen and antibody. The disulfide bond rich domain I-II and domain IV of p185 ECD were amplified from plasmid pBabe/erbB-2 by PCR respectively. These two fragments were inserted into pGEX/4T-1 vector, transfected into E. coli Origami B (DE3) pLysS and expressed inductively by low concentration of IPTG and low temperature overnight. After the pressure lysis of cells, the supernatants were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and the result demonstrated that this GST-fusion protein was expressed solubly in the amount of 10-15 mg/L. By the ELISA, Western blot and other immunological assays, the fusion proteins and their GST cut-off derivates both showed binding activities with several anti-p185 antibodies respectively. These results indicated that it was a feasible and effectual method to express disulfide bond rich domain I-II and domain IV of p185 ECD and this method may also be used to express other disulfide bond rich proteins.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Disulfides ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Solubility ; Transfection

AIMBy using of Escherichia coli DH5alpha to express GST-Ccd1 fusion protein and which was purified by affinity chromatographic separation. The purified target protein was used to immunize rabbits to prepare polyclonal antibody.

METHODSThe previously constructed recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-5X-1-Ccd1 was transformed into Escherichia coli DH5alpha and was induced to expression by IPTG. The recombinant target protein was expressed with soluble state in Escherichia coli expression system which was separated and purified by chromatographic column stuffed with glutathione Sepharose 4B. The prepared antigen was used to immunize rabbits to get anti-Ccd1 specific rabbit original polyclonal antibody.

RESULTSELISA data demonstrated that the antibody titer of the serum was up to 1:40 000. Immunohistochemistry analysis indicated that the "home-made" antibody had a specific interaction with Ccd1 protein and which could be used for extended experimental research.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-Ccd1 polyclonal antibody we had prepared had a high quality of potency and specificity. The antibody was demonstrated by experiments that which could totally fulfill the requirement of immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry study of Ccd1. The antibody provided an useful experimental tool to profoundly research the tissue expression profile, intercellular location and biological function of Ccd1.

Antibodies ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo construct eukaryotic expression plasmid IRES-gD-IL-2 which contains both HSV-1 glycoprotein D (gD) gene and IL-2 gene and to induce it to express in antigen presenting cell (APC) -- dendritic cells (DCs).

METHODSThe whole sequence of gD and IL-2 were amplified by PCR assay. After confirmation by PCR, double-enzyme digestion and sequencing, these genes were directly cloned into eukaryotic expression vector IRES, then were transfected into DCs. Western blotting was employed to identify the transcription and expression of gD gene.

RESULTSThe results of PCR and enzyme digestion showed that the recombinant expression plasmid contained correct fragments, and the transcription and expression of gD were confirmed by Western blotting.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant expression vector IRES-gD-IL-2 was constructed, the results of the Western blotting showed that the recombinant protein could be identified by gD- specific antibody, therefore the protein has immunologic competence.

Blotting, Western ; Dendritic Cells ; metabolism ; Herpes Simplex Virus Vaccines ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

FMDV 2A peptide was introduced as a linker between GP5 and M protein of porcine reproduction and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) to allow automatic self-cleavage the polyproteins. This strategy simultaneously displayed the neutralizing action of GP5 protein and cell-mediated immunity of M protein. We put them into the expression cassette of adenovirus vector. The results of RT-PCR, IFA and Western blotting showed that GP5 and M protein were not only expressed correctly, but also self-cleavaged and assemble heterodimers formation. To detect the advantages of rAd-GP5-2A-M, we also constructed some other recombinant adenoviruses (rAd-GP5, rAd-M and rAd-GP5-M) as control. After inoculated subcutaneously into BALB/c mice, the four recombinant adenoviruses can induce PRRSV-specific antibodies and cell-mediated immune response, but the level of humoral and cell-mediated immune response against PRRSV induced by rAd-GP5-2A-M is the strongest among the four recombinant adenoviruses. All of these suggested that it is possible to develop one multi-gene engineering vaccine utilizing FMDV 2A peptide, and also provided a novel strategy for developing other viral disease vaccine.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Female ; Immunization ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Swine ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

Hepatitis B virus core (HBc) proteins have been used as carrier for foreign epitopes since the 1980s. They could self-assemble into icosahedral particles. Foreign epitopes could be inserted into HBc protein in various protein regions, including the N- or C-terminal and the major immunodominant region (MIR). The factors relevant in the design of HBc particles for vaccine purpose are summarized in this review.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; Epitopes ; genetics ; immunology ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; biosynthesis ; immunology