Recombinant dengue virus type 2 envelope/hepatitis B surface antigen hybrid protein expressed in Pichia pastoris can function as a bivalent immunogen

A truncated version of the dengue virus type 2 envelope protein (Den2E) encoding the first 395 amino acid (aa) residues, and Den2E fused in-frame with the full-length 226-aa hepatitis B surface antigen (Den2E-HBsAg) protein were expressed in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. Both the recombinant proteins showed evidence of the capacity to form high molecular weight aggregates. Electron microscopic analysis of the purified proteins showed that while Den2E displayed an amorphous morphology, Den2E-HBsAg existed as well-structured virus-like particles (VLPs). Using immuno-gold electron microscopy, these VLPs were demonstrated to contain both components of the Den2E-HBsAg hybrid protein. Seroanalysis showed that the hybrid VLPs could function in vivo as bivalent immunogens, which could elicit immune responses directed against both components of the hybrid protein, as evidenced by ELISA, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence data.     

戊型肝炎病毒ORF2编码多肽抗原的表达及其特性研究

迄今所发现的唯一的戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）中和表位定位于开放读码框架2（ORF2）编码蛋白的第578和第607氨基酸（aa）之间的区域。将对应此区域的基因片段通过一段柔性的甘氨酸铰链与乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）表面抗原（HBsAg）基因的3′端相连,构建成HBV/HEV融合基因。该融合基因在毕赤酵母细胞内的表达产物物为分子量约29kDa的融合蛋白,具有组装成嵌合病毒样颗粒（VLP）的能力。此嵌合VLP具有与HBsAgVLP相似的特性且保留了天然HBV/HEV双重抗原性。对此嵌合VLP特性的初步研究提示其可能具有HBV/HEV双价重组疫苗的潜在应用前景。     

HBsAg/GM-CSF融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中的表达及其免疫原性研究

为探索一种提高乙肝病毒表面抗原免疫原性的新方法,用PCR和基因重组技术构建HBsAg与GM-CSF的融合基因,并在毕赤酵母中分泌表达HBsAg/GM-CSF(S-GM)融合蛋白。表达产物用SDS-PAGE检测,W estern b lot分析,离子交换柱纯化后免疫昆明鼠,ELISA检测免疫小鼠血清中抗HBsAg的抗体水平。结果显示S-GM融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中获得了表达,离子交换柱一步纯化即可得到纯度达90%以上的S-GM。W estern b lot分析S-GM可分别与抗HBsAg及抗GM-CSF的抗体特异结合。ELISA检测发现第一次免疫后4w出现抗HBsAg的抗体,加强免疫后融合蛋白组几乎全部阳转,且抗体水平较HBsAg组(P=0.009<0.05)及HBsAg和GM-CSF的混合物组(P=0.032<0.05)高。HBsAg/GM-CSF融合蛋白能够在毕赤酵母中表达,且可增强HBsAg的免疫原性,为提高乙肝疫苗的免疫效果提供了新的思路与方法。     

Generation of chimeric HBc proteins with epitopes in E.coli: formation of virus-like particles and a potent inducer of antigen-specific cytotoxic immune response and anti-tumor effect in vivo

The major aim of the project was to develop the virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying single or multi-epitope of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in Escherichia coli and to evaluate the effect on inducing Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell response and antitumor efficacy as candidate vaccines. To this end, hepatitis B virus core (HBc) particles were used as a carrier of HCC epitopes. Four HCC epitopes MAGE-1(278-286aa), MAGE-3(271-279aa), AFP1 (158-166aa) or AFP2 (542-550aa) were fused to the 3' terminus of the truncated HBV core gene, respectively, or conjunctively. Not all recombinant plasmids led to expression of chimeric proteins in expression strain E. coli BL21 (DE3), but chimeric proteins which are expressed in inclusion bodies resulted in the formation of complete "mature" VLPs. E. coli-derived truncated HBc(1-144) chimeric protein self-assembled into VLPs that both morphologically and physically are similar to the wild-type ones and they still remained activity after purification and refolding from 6M urea solution. We also showed that they could be internalized and presented by DCs in vitro. Additionally, DCs pulsed with the chimeric HBc-VLPs could induce stronger CTL activity and greater IFN-gamma secretion by responding T cells compared with peptid-pulsed DCs. In the B16-pIR-HH tumor therapy model, the growth of established tumors was significantly inhibited by immunization using VLP-pulsed DCs, resulting in significantly higher survival rate of immunized animals. Thus, the results of the current study have demonstrated the principal possibility of using VLP on the basis of HBcAg for creation of a new type of HCC-specific immunogen.     

HIV-1膜蛋白在甲醇型酵母中的表达和抗原性的研究

通过计算机辅助分析了中国广西B/C重组亚型HIV-1病毒株的Env蛋白(共851氨基酸残基)氨基酸的疏水性、潜在的抗原表位,与其它亚型的Env蛋白在氨基酸组成的保守性方面进行了比较,选择了env基因的469-511aa,538-674aa和700-734aa三段保守性及抗原性都较强的氨基酸序列构建成嵌合基因,将嵌合基因构建到毕赤酵母Pichia pastoris表达载体pPICZαB中,利用甲醇诱导表达,对表达的蛋白进行了Wester blot和SDS-PAGE分析,结果表明,三段基因能在毕赤酵母Pichia pastoris中表达,产物为40kD的特异性诱导糖蛋白,通过Ni-sepharose 4B金属Ni螯合层析柱分离纯化表达蛋白,酶联免疫检测结果表明,纯化的抗原有很强的抗原特异性,可以用于HIV检测试剂的研制和开发。     

Expression and processing of hepatitis C virus structural proteins in Pichia pastoris yeast

Development of heterologous systems to produce useful HCV vaccine candidates is an important part of HCV research. In this study different HCV structural region variants were designed to express the first 120 aa, 176 aa, 339 aa, and 650 aa of HCV polyprotein, and aa 384 to 521, or aa 384-605 or aa 384-746 of HCV E2 protein fused to the leader sequence of sucrose invertase 2 allowing the secretion of recombinant E2 proteins. Low expression levels were observed for HCV core protein (HCcAg) variants expressing the first 120 aa and 176 aa (HCcAg.120 and HCcAg.176, respectively). Higher expression levels were observed when HCcAg was expressed as a polypeptide with either E1 or E1 and E2 proteins. In addition, HCcAg was processed to produce two antigenic bands with 21 and 23kDa (P21 and P23, respectively) when expressed as a polypeptide with HCV E1 and E2 proteins. Results also suggest E1 processing in the context of HCcAg.E1.E2 polyprotein. On the other hand, E2.521, E2.605, and E2.680 were efficiently excreted to the culture medium. However, the entire E2.746 variant predominantly localized in the insoluble fraction of ruptured cells. Results suggest that the hydrophobic C-terminal E2 region from aa 681 to 746 is critical for intracellular retention of recombinant E2.746 protein in Pichia pastoris cells. Endo H or PNGase F treatment suggests that E2.746 was modified with high-mannose type oligosaccharides in P. pastoris. These data justify the usefulness of P. pastoris expression system to express HCV structural viral proteins which may be useful targets for HCV vaccine candidates.     

人GLP -1- IgG Fc融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中的高效表达

目的:构建GLP-1-IgG Fc融合蛋白分子并在毕赤酵母中实现高效表达.方法:使用蛋白质工程技术改造GLP -1,去除其蛋白酶降解位点,然后利用重叠延伸PCR方法得到改造后的GLP -1与人IgG-Fc片断的嵌合体基因并将其插入pPIC9K载体中.以重组载体转化巴斯德毕赤酵母菌中进行表达.采用SDS-PAGE和Western Blot方法检测重组蛋白的表达.结果:成功的构建了GLP -1-IgG Fc嵌合体基因并使其在重组毕赤酵母中高效分泌表达.在25℃条件下,摇瓶培养添加0.5％甲醇诱导72h后融合蛋白的表达量最大,为5mg/L.SDS-PAGE和Westem-Blot结果表明表达产物为GLP -1-IgG Fc融合蛋白.结论:获得了高效表达GLP -1-IgG Fc融合蛋白的毕赤酵母菌株,为GLP -1-IgG Fc的活性和半衰期测定及下一步的开发奠定了基础,并为在毕赤酵母菌中表达其他Fc融合蛋白和抗体提供了参考.     

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.     

Genetic analysis of the membrane insertion and topology of MalF, a cytoplasmic membrane protein of Escherichia coli

MalF is an essential cytoplasmic membrane protein of the maltose transport system of Escherichia coli. We have developed a general approach for analysis of the mechanism of integration of membrane proteins and their membrane topology by characterizing a series of fusions of beta-galactosidase to MalF. The properties of the fusion proteins indicate the following. (1) The first two presumed transmembrane segments of MalF are sufficient to anchor beta-galactosidase firmly to the inner membrane. (2) Hybrid proteins with beta-galactosidase fused to a presumed cytoplasmic domain of MalF have high beta-galactosidase specific activity; fusions to periplasmic domains have low activity. We propose therefore, that periplasmic and cytoplasmic domains of integral membrane proteins can be distinguished by the enzymatic properties of such hybrid proteins. In general, it appears that cleaved or non-cleaved signal sequences when attached to beta-galactosidase cause it to become embedded in the membrane, and this results in the inability of the hybrid proteins to assemble into active enzyme. Additional properties of these fusion proteins contribute to our understanding of the regulation of MalF synthesis. The MalF protein, synthesized as part of the malEFG operon of E. coli, is approximately 30-fold less abundant in the cell than MalE protein (the maltose-binding protein). Differential amounts of the fusion proteins indicate that a regulatory signal occurs within the malF gene that is responsible for the step-down in expression from the malE gene to the malF gene.     

HBc-based virus-like particle assembly from inclusion bodies using 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol

Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBc) has recently been used as carriers to develop recombinant vaccines. However, not virus-like particles (VLPs) but inactive inclusion bodies are often formed for the chimeric proteins when expressed in Escherichia coli. A novel method for in vitro assembly of chimeric HBc-MAGE3 II from inclusion bodies to VLPs was established in this study. The method utilized 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol (MPD), an amphipathic di-alcohol, to dissociate sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) from the solubilized chimeric protein to initiate VLP assembly. The HBc-MAGE3 II could assemble into VLPs only when the molar ratio of SDS/protein subunit was less than 0.14. After removing SDS/MPD by desalting and further purification, VLPs with similar morphology to the natural virus were obtained. This method could be used for preparation of other VLPs expressed as inclusion bodies.     

Assembly of bacteriophage Qbeta virus-like particles in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris

Recombinant bacteriophage Qbeta coat protein (CP), which has been proposed as a promising carrier of foreign epitopes via their incorporation either by gene engineering techniques or by chemical coupling, efficiently self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) when expressed in Escherichia coli. Here, we demonstrate expression and self-assembly of Qbeta CP in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris. Production reached 3-4 mg/1g of wet cells for S. cerevisiae and 4-6 mg for P. pastoris, which was about 15-20% and 20-30% of the E. coli expression level, respectively. Qbeta VLPs were easily purified by size-exclusion chromatography in both cases and contained nucleic acid, shown by native agarose gel electrophoresis. The obtained particles were highly immunogenic in mice and the resulting sera recognized both E. coli- and yeast-derived Qbeta VLPs equally well.     

嵌合型口蹄疫病毒样颗粒构建、表达及鉴定

为提高口蹄疫病毒(Foot-and-mouthdiseasevirus,FMDV)病毒样颗粒(Virus-likeparticles,VLPs)的特异性识别和递呈,为靶向疫苗研究奠定基础,利用反向PCR技术,将卵清蛋白(Ovalbumin,OVA)第257–264位氨基酸(Amino acids,aa)的短肽嵌入FMDV结构蛋白VP3第171–172位aa或第173–174位aa,通过大肠杆菌表达FMDV结构蛋白VP0、VP1和嵌合型VP3,体外组装得到嵌合OVA257-264肽的病毒样颗粒(VLPOVA)。用动态光散射、透射电镜检测VLPOVA大小和形态,免疫印迹、酶联免疫吸附试验和激光共聚焦显微镜检测短肽的嵌入情况。结果显示在VP3的第173–174位aa嵌入OVA,不影响蛋白表达和VLPs的组装且OVA位于VLPOVA的表面,VLPOVA粒径比VLPs稍大。     

Analysis of alpha-factor secretion signals by fusing with acid phosphatase of yeast

In yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the PHO5 gene encodes the repressible acid phosphatase (APase) whose activity can be easily monitored by either the staining of colonies or by colorimetric assay. Therefore, gene fusions to PHO5 provide a convenient system for structural and functional analysis of yeast genes. We have constructed fusions of the PHO5 gene with a MF alpha 1 gene of yeast to delineate the secretion signal(s) in the alpha-factor leader peptide. Gene fusion between MF alpha 1 and PHO5 codes for a hybrid protein in which the alpha-factor leader peptide of 89 amino acids (aa) directed the export of APase, a periplasmic protein, into the medium. Since the hybrid gene is transcribed from the alpha-factor promoter, expression of the APase activity from these hybrid genes showed cell type-specific regulation. Further analyses of another MF alpha 1-PHO5 fusion showed that only the first 22 aa of the 89-aa alpha-factor leader peptide contained sufficient information for the secretion of APase into the medium. This shows that, in addition to the analysis of gene regulation, PHO5 fusions can be used to study signals involved in the proper localization of proteins.     

Production of the virus‐like particles of nipah virus matrix protein in Pichia pastoris as diagnostic reagents

The matrix (M) protein of Nipah virus (NiV) is a peripheral protein that plays a vital role in the envelopment of nucleocapsid protein and acts as a bridge between the viral surface and the nucleocapsid proteins. The M protein is also proven to play an important role in production of virus‐like particles (VLPs) and is essential for assembly and budding of NiV particles. The recombinant M protein produced in Escherichia coli assembled into VLPs in the absence of the viral surface proteins. However, the E. coli produced VLPs are smaller than the native virus particles. Therefore, the aims of this study were to produce NiV M protein in Pichia pastoris, to examine the structure of the VLPs formed, and to assess the potential of the VLPs as a diagnostic reagent. The M protein was successfully expressed in P. pastoris and was detected with anti‐myc antibody using Western blotting. The VLPs formed by the recombinant M protein were purified with sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC). Immunogold staining and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the M protein assembled into VLPs as large as 200 nm. ELISA revealed that the NiV M protein produced in P. pastoris reacted strongly with positive NiV sera demonstrating its potential as a diagnostic reagent. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:1038–1045, 2016     

A family 2a carbohydrate-binding module suitable as an affinity tag for proteins produced in Pichia pastoris

The family 2a carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), Cel5ACBM2a, from the C-terminus of Cel5A from Cellulomonas fimi, and Xyn10ACBM2a, the family 2a CBM from the C-terminus of Xyn10A from C. fimi, were compared as fusion partners for proteins produced in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. Gene fusions of murine stem-cell factor (SCF) with both CBMs were expressed in P. pastoris. The secreted SCF-Xyn10ACBM2a polypeptides were highly glycosylated and bound poorly to cellulose. In contrast, fusion of SCF to Cel5ACBM2a, which lacks potential N-linked glycosylation sites, resulted in the production of polypeptides which bound tightly to cellulose. Cloning and expression of these CBM2a in P. pastoris without a fusion partner confirmed that N-linked glycosylation at several sites was responsible for the poor cellulose binding. The nonglycosylated CBMs produced in E. coli had very similar cellulose-binding properties.     

Essential elements of the capsid protein for self-assembly into empty virus-like particles of hepatitis E virus

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a noncultivable virus that causes acute liver failure in humans. The virus's major capsid protein is encoded by an open reading frame 2 (ORF2) gene. When the recombinant protein consisting of amino acid (aa) residues 112 to 660 of ORF2 is expressed with a recombinant baculovirus, the protein self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) (T.-C. Li, Y. Yamakawa, K. Suzuki, M. Tatsumi, M. A. Razak, T. Uchida, N. Takeda, and T. Miyamura, J. Virol. 71:7207-7213, 1997). VLPs can be found in the culture medium of infected Tn5 cells but not in that of Sf9 cells, and the major VLPs have lost the C-terminal 52 aa. To investigate the protein requirement for HEV VLP formation, we prepared 14 baculovirus recombinants to express the capsid proteins truncated at the N terminus, the C terminus, or both. The capsid protein consisting of aa residues 112 to 608 formed VLPs in Sf9 cells, suggesting that particle formation is dependent on the modification process of the ORF2 protein. In the present study, electron cryomicroscopy and image processing of VLPs produced in Sf9 and Tn5 cells indicated that they possess the same configurations and structures. Empty VLPs were found in both Tn5 and Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant containing an N-terminal truncation up to aa residue 125 and C-terminal to aa residue 601, demonstrating that the aa residues 126 to 601 are the essential elements required for the initiation of VLP assembly. The recombinant HEV VLPs are potential mucosal vaccine carrier vehicles for the presentation of foreign antigenic epitopes and may also serve as vectors for the delivery of genes to mucosal tissue for DNA vaccination and gene therapy. The results of the present study provide useful information for constructing recombinant HEV VLPs having novel functions.     

Antigenicity and immunogenicity of novel chimeric hepatitis B surface antigen particles with exposed hepatitis C virus epitopes

The small envelope protein of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg-S) can self-assemble into highly organized virus like particles (VLPs) and induce an effective immune response. In this study, a restriction enzyme site was engineered into the cDNA of HBsAg-S at a position corresponding to the exposed site within the hydrophilic a determinant region (amino acid [aa] 127-128) to create a novel HBsAg vaccine vector allowing surface orientation of the inserted sequence. We inserted sequences of various lengths from hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 protein containing immunodominant epitopes and demonstrated secretion of the recombinant HBsAg VLPs from transfected mammalian cells. A number of different recombinant proteins were synthesized, and HBsAg VLPs containing inserts up to 36 aa were secreted with an efficiency similar to that of wild-type HBsAg. The HVR1 region exposed on the particles retained an antigenic structure similar to that recognized immunologically during natural infection. VLPs containing epitopes from either HCV-1a or -1b strains were produced that induced strain-specific antibody responses in immunized mice. Injection of a combination of these VLPs induced antibodies against both HVR1 epitopes that resulted in higher titers than were achieved by vaccination with the individual VLPs, suggesting a synergistic effect. This may lead to the development of recombinant particles which are able to induce a broad anti-HCV immune response against the HCV quasispecies or other quasispecies-like infectious agents.     

High avidity binding of engineered papaya mosaic virus virus-like particles to resting spores of Plasmodiophora brassicae

Papaya mosaic virus (PapMV) like particles (VLPs) were used as a platform for fusion of affinity peptides binding to resting spores of Plasmodiophora brassicae-a major pathogen of crucifers. Three peptides with specific affinity to the target were isolated and cloned at the C-terminus of the PapMV coat protein (CP), generating three different high avidity VLPs. The peptides were exposed at the surface of the VLPs and their avidity to resting spores of P. brassicae was measured by flow cytometry. NLP-A, with the peptide DPAPRPR, showed the highest avidity. The binding avidity of NLP-A to P. brassicae spores was comparable to that of a polyclonal antibody. NLP-A was also shown to be more specific than the antibody. Fusion of the affinity peptide to a monomeric form (mCP) of the CP [Lecours, K., Tremblay, M.-H., Laliberté Gagné, M.-E., Gagné, S.M., Leclerc, D., 2006. Purification and biochemical characterization of a monomeric form of papaya mosaic potexvirus coat protein. Protein Express. Purific. 47, 273-280] generated a fusion protein that was unable to assemble into VLPs, and mCP-A fusions failed to bind resting spores. The avidity of VLP-A was increased by adding a glycine spacer between the C-terminus of the PapMV CP and the peptide, and improved even further by using a duplicated A peptide in the fusion protein. The use of high avidity VLPs has advantages over polyclonal antibodies because of target specificity. VLPs offers the specificity of monoclonal antibodies but can be more easily generated using the powerful selection of phage display.     

Expression of the lacZ gene from two methanol-regulated promoters in Pichia pastoris.

Two DNA fragments containing putative control regions regulating the expression of the alcohol oxidase (AOX) and dihydroxy-acetone synthase (DAS) genes from the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris were used in the construction of vectors for the expression of the Escherichia coli lacZ gene. These vectors were transformed into P. pastoris host cells and employed in experiments to measure the control mechanisms employed by each promoter in the production of beta-galactosidase fusion products. Results in P. pastoris suggest that the processes used to regulate the expression of these gene fusions involve both repression/derepression and induction mechanisms. Expression of the AOX-lacZ and DAS-lacZ fusions was examined in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well. Interestingly, beta-galactosidase was expressed in a regulated manner in the heterologous host.     

PSP94融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达及其抗前列腺癌活性分析

在从成年人正常前列腺组织中获得人９４个氨基酸的前列腺分泌蛋白（ＰＳＰ９４）ｃＤＮＡ基础上,利用ＰＬ表达系统,实现了人ＰＳＰ９４成熟肽Ｎ 末端带有１９个外源氨基酸的融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达。目的蛋白在细胞中主要以包涵体形式存在,表达量约占菌体总蛋白的３０％,分子量约为１６－５ｋＤ。表达产物在人前列腺癌细胞ＰＣ ３上活性分析表明,该融合蛋白能明显抑制前列腺癌细胞的生长。