一种乙肝表面抗原结合蛋白可作为疫苗佐剂

乙肝表面抗原结合蛋白(HBsAg binding protein, SBP)是本实验室发现的一种可以与乙肝表面抗原HBsAg特异性结合的人源蛋白,该蛋白已经被证实具有增强乙肝疫苗免疫效果的作用.目前,我们已经利用毕赤酵母表达系统获得了能够分泌表达SBP的毕赤酵母表达菌株.本研究通过对上述菌株的发酵产物进行超滤和亲和层析纯化,获得了一定量的高纯度重组SBP蛋白,并利用酶联免疫吸附检测(ELISA)法和表面等离子体共振(SPF)法分别对重组SBP进行了体内外生物学活性的初步检测,证实其具有与HBsAg结合的能力,并求得了二者之间的亲和常数.将重组SBP作为乙肝疫苗增效剂与乙肝疫苗共同免疫小鼠,SBP增效组小鼠与对照组相比,血清中HBsAg抗体显著升高,表明SBP在体液免疫方面对乙肝疫苗具有显著的增效作用.上述结果表明,SBP有望作为乙肝疫苗的免疫佐剂,在乙型肝炎防治方面有重要意义.     

毕赤酵母工程菌表达乙肝表面抗原结合蛋白(SBP)的发酵纯化工艺研究

乙肝表面抗原结合蛋白(HBsAg binding protein,SBP)是以HBsAg为探针,通过人肝cDNA噬菌体表达库筛选的一种人源蛋白。SBP可特异性结合乙肝表面抗原(Hepatitis B virus surface antigen, HBsAg),增强乙肝疫苗的免疫效果,是一种潜在快速高效的免疫佐剂。成功构建了分泌型高表达SBP的毕赤酵母工程菌。对该菌株进行了放大规模发酵表达,并对纯化工艺进行了研究。在发酵实时检测过程中,自诱导剂甲醇加入开始,SBP蛋白的分泌表达量随时间推移而逐渐增加,发现于38h达到最佳水平且此时杂蛋白含量最少,是放罐收集菌液的最佳时间。18L发酵液在低温离心除菌体和沉淀物后可得到15L的上清液,再利用截留量为5kDa的超滤膜包将上清液浓缩至2L,将浓缩后的上清液依次通过S200分子筛柱和TDEAE阴离子交换柱进行分离纯化,可得到300ml浓度为1.125mg/ml、纯度达98%的目标蛋白液,发酵液得率为22.5mg/L;最后将蛋白液定量分装冻干低温保存。所获得的放大规模SBP发酵诱导表达条件和SBP蛋白的分离纯化工艺,为SBP蛋白大规模生产奠定了坚实的基础。     

一种新的乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原结合蛋白的筛选、表达及其生物学活性的初步研究

为了研究乙肝病毒侵染肝细胞过程中的功能蛋白 ,通过印迹免疫分析技术从人肝cDNA噬菌体表达库中筛选出一株编码乙肝表面抗原结合蛋白 (hepatitisBsurfaceantigenbindingprotein ,HBsAg BP)的cDNA克隆 .基因测序结果表明 ,该cDNA具有独立的开放阅读框架 ,编码 1个由 344个氨基酸残基构成的可溶性蛋白分子 ,属于免疫球蛋白超家族成员 .将该基因克隆到原核表达载体pTriplEx后 ,在E .coliXL1 Blue菌株中获得 4 4kD的重组蛋白 .重组蛋白经Western印迹和ELISA实验证明具有与乙肝表面抗原特异性结合的能力 .进一步经流式细胞仪实验显示 ,在纯化的重组蛋白存在的情况下 ,天然的HBsAg与肝细胞株HepG2的亲和力显著增高 .结果显示 ,该乙肝表面抗原结合蛋白可能是介导乙肝病毒对肝细胞亲和侵染的可溶性辅助受体 .     

人源性抗HBsAg抗体Fab段在酵母中的表达

通过分步整合的方式,将人源性抗乙肝表面抗原（HBsAg）抗体Fab的轻、重链基因分步整合到巴斯德毕赤（Pichia pastoris）酵母GS115菌株的染色体上,经甲醇诱导,成功地分泌表达出抗HBsAg抗体的Fab片段,表达量达50～80mg/L。ELISA结果显示重组酵母分泌表达出的Fab具有较强的结合HBsAg的能力。通过抗Fab的抗体柱亲和层析,纯化出了纯度较高的Fab产品。     

利用病毒载体在烟草中瞬时表达融合HBsAg基因

利用马铃薯PVX病毒载体构建了外源人工融合乙肝表面抗原HBsAg基因的表达载体,在烟草中利用农杆菌介导进行瞬时表达,以快速鉴定外源基因瞬时表达的状况以及重组蛋白的免疫活性。利用PCR技术从含有人工融合HBsAg基因的表达载体中分别扩增出LP PreS1 PreS2 S、PreS1 PreS2 S、PreS2 S序列,将其分别与PVX病毒载体pgR106连接,构建成PVX-LP、PVX-S1和PVX-S2等3个转化载体,并将此载体导入农杆菌菌株GV3101中用于侵染烟草植株叶片。感染植株经RT-PCR、RNA Dot blotting和HBsAg蛋白的ELISA检测显示,3个人工融合的HBsAg基因均可在植物体内得到转录,翻译成具有活性的蛋白。结果表明,外源融合HB-sAg基因经过植物病毒载体瞬时表达系统可以在植物系统中正常转录和翻译。     

G145R突变后乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原在酵母系统的表达及其免疫学特性分析

为了研究乙型肝炎(乙肝)病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)发生G145R突变后的免疫学特性改变情况,首先利用Pichia pastoris酵母表达系统分泌表达G145R突变后的HBsAg的preS2 S(中蛋白),用重组表达产物免疫小鼠,酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和Western blot实验等研究其抗原性和免疫原性与野毒型HBsAg的异同。从150个阳性表达克隆中筛选出一株表达量最高的克隆株MC23,Western blot检测显示,表达的HBsAg中蛋白单体主带分子量在34kD、37kD左右,表达量约为200μg／L。用不同的HBsAg检测试剂检测其抗原性发现,G145R突变后的HBsAg,用绝大多数试剂都不能很好地检出,检出能力只有野毒型HBsAg的50％或更低,但用美国雅培公司的试剂检出能力可达野毒的98％。G145R突变后的HBsAg中蛋白免疫小鼠后,血清中可检测到1：1600的特异性表面抗体,该抗体与G145R突变后的HBsAg“a”决定簇合成肽P2—145R也能发生交叉反应,反应滴度为1：80。但该抗体和野毒型HBsAg蛋白以及野毒“a”决定簇合成肽P1-wt均不反应。上述结果表明,G145R突变后的HBsAg中蛋白在Pichia pastoris酵母系统得到了分泌表达,表达产物仍具有较好的免疫原性,但和野毒HBsAg相比,其抗原性和免疫原性发生了明显改变。     

野生及变异的HBsAg在毕赤酵母中的重组表达

目的表达野生及变异的乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)表面抗原,为评价其免疫诊断试剂的敏感性提供依据。方法利用含有野生型和3种突变型乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)序列为模板PCR进行扩增,将目的片段胶回收后,进行酶切与酵母表达载体pPICZA和pPICZα连接。电转化酵母菌株GS115,通过使用抗生素Zeocine加压筛选,获得高拷贝菌株。挑选多个单克隆菌株在BMMY中诱导表达,选择表达量高的菌株用于后续研究。结果构建野生型HBsAg以及突变型T126N、D144A、G145R三种重组质粒。通过对157株菌株筛选,获得1株野生型和3株突变型表达量高的菌株。表达产物经雅培Architect i2000的检测试剂、确证试剂以及WB(Western blotting)检测,结果均为阳性。结论成功表达了野生及变异的HBsAg,为评价国产HBsAg诊断试剂对变异株的检测能力提供了依据。     

共表达siRNA和hIL-12的新型乙肝多表位DNA疫苗的研究

目的 构建含有靶向乙肝表面抗原(HBsAg)基因的siRNA、乙肝复合多表位抗原基因和hIL-12共质粒表达的新型DNA疫苗,并在HepG2细胞中检测siRNA的效果以及各基因的表达。方法 设计并合成复合多表位HBV抗原基因,将其与增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）基因融合克隆进真核表达载体pVAX1的多克隆位点中,同时将带CMV启动子的完整hIL-12表达单元克隆进载体的BspH I位点之间,再设计并合成乙肝siRNA表达单元,将其克隆进载体的Mlu I位点之间,得到真核三元共表达重组质粒pVAX1-siHB-HB-EGFP-hIL12。以该重组质粒瞬时转染人肝癌细胞系HepG2,通过EGFP的荧光标记观察多表位抗原的表达,以ELISA测定培养细胞上清中hIL-12的表达,以rtPCR检测siRNA对HBsAg基因的沉默效果。结果 经酶切鉴定和测序证实共表达siRNA、hIL-12的HBV 多表位DNA疫苗构建成功。转染细胞中检测到绿色荧光,证实抗原表达;转染后48 h hIL-12的检出量为1 289 pg/mL细胞上清,72 h检出量为1 712 pg/mL细胞上清;转染后HBsAg表达量明显降低,证实siRNA效果良好。结论 成功构建乙肝复合多表位抗原基因与siRNA、hIL-12共质粒表达的DNA疫苗,并能在真核细胞中有效表达抗原与hIL-12基因,而且siRNA对HBsAg显示出明显的沉默效果。我们的工作为进一步研究该复合型DNA疫苗抗HBV的治疗效果打下基础。     

新型佐剂DC-Chol对不同来源HBsAg促细胞免疫比较研究

目的： 筛选治疗性乙肝疫苗的候选抗原。方法： 分别用国产CHO乙肝表面抗原和酵母乙肝表面抗原结合DC-Chol脂质体佐剂免疫BALB/c小鼠,1周后检测其脾细胞产生的IL-2和IFN-γ的水平。ELISPOT法评价铝佐剂和DC-Chol脂质体佐剂结合HBsAg促小鼠细胞免疫反应水平。结果： 酵母乙肝表面抗原结合DC-Chol脂质体所诱导的IL-2和IFN-γ的水平分别为CHO乙肝表面抗原结合DC-Chol脂质体的20倍和119倍。酵母乙肝表面抗原结合DC-Chol脂质体所诱导的IL-4和IFN-γ的斑点数分别为酵母乙肝表面抗原结合铝佐剂的2.8倍和46.3倍。结论： 就DC-Chol脂质体佐剂而言,酵母表达的乙肝表面抗原细胞免疫原性强,是适合用于治疗性乙肝疫苗的候选疫苗。     

利用单细胞RT-PCR体外克隆个体化乙型肝炎表面抗体重链

目的建立一种利用单细胞RT-PCR技术克隆乙型肝炎表面抗体重链的方法,为人源化、个体化的乙肝治疗性抗体研制奠定基础。方法利用单细胞分选技术从乙肝疫苗接种志愿者外周血中分选得到单个抗体分泌细胞（antibody-secreting cells,ASC）,用单细胞RT-PCR克隆其IgG重链全长到pEGFP-N1载体,转染COS-7细胞,上清液用乙肝表面抗原（hepatitis B surface antigen,HBsAg）通过Western blot进行结合力验证。结果克隆得到1 500 bp左右的重链全长,重链表达产物经验证能与乙肝表面抗原特异结合。结论克隆得到表达产物能与HBsAg特异结合的重链基因,为我们后期制备抗体轻链、连接轻重链和抗体亲和力鉴定奠定基础。     

The role of surface structures of Streptococcus agalactiae in adhesion to epithelial cells

Induced mutants of S. agalactiae which differed in surface structures were used for the study. The aim of using them was to try to correlate the presence of defined structures or surface properties with the ability of group B streptococci to attach to epithelial cells. The presence of protein antigen R conditioned strong binding of S. agalactiae cells to hydrophobic gel. Strains bearing clumping factor (CF) showed high surface hydrophobicity and presented compact growth in serum soft agar. However, there was no correlation between high surface hydrophobicity and the ability to adhere. Fibrinogen binding decreased the attachment to epithelial cells of CF-positive strains. Preincubation of bacterial cells with lectin (ConA) did not influence the attachment of S. agalactiae strains with protein surface antigen but increased the adhesion of the strains with polysaccharide antigen or untypable.     

Insulin suppresses hepatitis B surface antigen expression in human hepatoma cells

The human hepatoma Hep3B cells contain integrated hepatitis B viral genome and continually secret hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The production of HBsAg (but not alpha-fetoprotein) was suppressed by addition of low concentrations (0.1-1 nM) of insulin into serum-free medium. In addition, the suppression of HBsAg production by insulin was paralleled with the decrease in HBsAg mRNA abundance. Insulin also cause a rapid rate of disappearance of HBsAg mRNA (t 1/2, 2 h) in Hep3B cells. The Hep3B cells carry specific receptor with high affinity for insulin (Kd = 1.8 nM). The receptor showed an insulin-dependent protein tyrosine kinase activity. The half-maximal insulin concentration for the activation of the receptor kinase was about 5 nM. Only very high concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I and human proinsulin can compete for the insulin receptor binding and suppress HBsAg production, this suggests that insulin may act through its receptor binding to suppress HBsAg expression in human hepatoma Hep3B cells.     

Analysis of transgenic tobacco plants carrying the gene for the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus

The plasmids carrying the gene encoding the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) under the control of 35S RNA single or dual promoters of the cauliflower mosaic virus CaMV 35S were constructed. These constructions were used for obtaining transgenic tobacco plants that synthesize the HBS antigen. The presence of HBsAg in tobacco plant extracts was confirmed by the enzyme-linked immunoassay using antibodies against the native HBs antigen. The antigen amount in plants carrying the HbsAg gene under a single 35 S promoter was 0.0001-0.001 of the total soluble protein whereas the use of a dual 35S promoter increased the antigen synthesis to 0.002-0.05% of the protein. The antigen-synthesizing ability was inherited by the offspring. In the F1 plants, the antigen expression varied in different lines comprising 0.001 to 0.03% of the total soluble protein, which corresponded to the antigen amount in the F0 plants.     

Inhibition of the HCV Core Protein on the Immune Response to HBV Surface Antigen and on HBV Gene Expression and Replication In Vivo

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is a multifunctional protein that can interfere with the induction of an immune response. It has been reported that the HCV core protein inhibits HBV replication in vitro. In this study, we test the effect of the HCV core gene on the priming of the immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and on the replication of HBV in vivo. Our results showed that the full-length HCV core gene inhibits the induction of an immune response to the heterogeneous antigen, HBsAg, at the site of inoculation when HCV core (pC191) and HBsAg (pHBsAg) expression plasmids are co-administered as DNA vaccines into BALB/c mice. The observed interference effect of the HCV core occurs in the priming stage and is limited to the DNA form of the HBsAg antigen, but not to the protein form. The HCV core reduces the protective effect of the HBsAg when the HBsAg and the HCV core are co-administered as vaccines in an HBV hydrodynamic mouse model because the HCV core induces immune tolerance to the heterogeneous HBsAg DNA antigen. These results suggest that HCV core may play an important role in viral persistence by the attenuation of host immune responses to different antigens. We further tested whether the HCV core interfered with the priming of the immune response in hepatocytes via the hydrodynamic co-injection of an HBV replication-competent plasmid and an HCV core plasmid. The HCV core inhibited HBV replication and antigen expression in both BALB/c (H-2d) and C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice, the mouse models of acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infections. Thus, the HCV core inhibits the induction of a specific immune response to an HBsAg DNA vaccine. However, HCV C also interferes with HBV gene expression and replication in vivo, as observed in patients with coinfection.     

Conformational analysis of hepatitis B surface antigen fusions in an Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression system

Vaccine antigens have been successfully produced in transgenic plants for oral immunization. Recently, a fusion strategy has been adopted to produce multicomponent vaccines and to target antigens to mucosal sites for enhanced oral immunogenicity. However, antigen fusions may not be folded correctly due to steric hindrance and may thus lose their potency. Here, we describe an Agrobacterium-mediated transient assay that provides enough antigen-expressing material at 2 days post-transfection to evaluate antigen conformation. Using the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as a model antigen and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a model fusion partner, we showed that transiently expressed HBsAg and an HBsAg fusion with GFP at the N-terminus (GFP:HBsAg), but not the HBsAg fusion with GFP at the C-terminus (HBsAg:GFP), formed the 'a' determinant and virus-like particles (VLPs), similar to yeast-derived vaccine HBsAg. Thus, it is feasible to modify the HBsAg with an N-terminal fusion of up to 239 amino acids without altering its major antigenic properties. Our results also demonstrate that the Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression system can be used to evaluate the conformation of plant-based vaccines or other pharmaceutical proteins in a high-throughput manner.     

The full-length clone of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus and its application as an expression system for Hepatitis B surface antigen

A cucumber green mosaic mottle virus (CGMMV) full-length clone was developed for the expression of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The expression of the surface displayed HBsAg by the chimeric virus was confirmed through a double antibody sandwich ELISA. Assessment of the coat protein composition of the chimeric virus particles by SDS-PAGE analysis showed that 50% of the coat proteins were fused to the HBsAg. Biological activity of the expressed HBsAg was assessed through the stimulation of in vitro antibody production by cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC that were cultured in the presence of the chimeric virus showed up to an approximately three-fold increase in the level of anti HBsAg immunoglobulin thus suggesting the possible use of this new chimeric virus as an effective Hepatitis B vaccine.