Induction of protective immunity in swine by recombinant bamboo mosaic virus expressing foot-and-mouth disease virus epitopes

Background

Plants are increasingly being examined as alternative recombinant protein expression systems. Recombinant protein expression levels in plants from Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based vectors are much higher than those possible from plant promoters. However the common TMV expression vectors are costly, and at times technically challenging, to work with. Therefore it was a goal to develop TMV expression vectors that express high levels of recombinant protein and are easier, more reliable, and more cost-effective to use.

Results

We have constructed a Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter-driven TMV expression vector that can be delivered as a T-DNA to plant cells by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Co-introduction (by agroinfiltration) of this T-DNA along with a 35S promoter driven gene for the RNA silencing suppressor P19, from Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) resulted in essentially complete infection of the infiltrated plant tissue with the TMV vector by 4 days post infiltration (DPI). The TMV vector produced between 600 and 1200 micrograms of recombinant protein per gram of infiltrated tissue by 6 DPI. Similar levels of recombinant protein were detected in systemically infected plant tissue 10–14 DPI. These expression levels were 10 to 25 times higher than the most efficient 35S promoter driven transient expression systems described to date.

Conclusion

These modifications to the TMV-based expression vector system have made TMV vectors an easier, more reliable and more cost-effective way to produce recombinant proteins in plants. These improvements should facilitate the production of recombinant proteins in plants for both research and product development purposes. The vector should be especially useful in high-throughput experiments.     

Transient expression of heterologous model gene in plants using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potato virus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis>-based vector

To optimize the efficiency of expression of foreign proteins using Potato virus X (PVX) -- based vector, the gene for the coat protein (CP) of other virus (Potato virus A, PVA) was cloned into the vector, propagated in E. coli and subsequently inoculated or agroinfected into the host plants. Host range studies showed that the best host plant is N. benthamiana. By means of RT PCR the presence and the stability of the construct were tested. Both ELISA and Western blot analysis were applicable for expressed protein detection. Expression level of PVA CP achieved approximately 5--10 per mille of total soluble proteins. The results demonstrated that agroinfection is the most suitable method for the propagation of our model gene using PVX--based vectors.     

TMV介导的外源蛋白在植物中表达

烟草花叶病毒(Tobaccomosaicvirus,TMV)为Tobamovirus代表成员,以此病毒介导的外源蛋白在植物中表达,经过了十几年的研究和不断完善,已被证实为一种有效的表达外源蛋白的途径.这项技术已经在医用活性多肽以及疫苗的研制、功能基因的鉴定、植物体内生物合成途径的研究等方面发挥越来越重要的作用.重点阐述了TMV基因组RNA的结构和分子生物学特征,并着重对重组载体的构建及其利用加以了论述.     

Development of a new tobamovirus-based viral vector for protein expression in plants

Plants are becoming an interesting alternative system for the heterologous production of pharmaceutical proteins, providing a more scalable, cost-effective, and biologically safer option than the current expression systems. The development of plant virus expression vectors has allowed rapid and high-level transient expression of recombinant genes, and, in turn, provided an attractive plant-based production platform. Here we report the development of vectors based on the tobamovirus Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) to be used in transient expression of foreign genes. In this PMMoV vector, a middle part of the viral coat protein gene was replaced by the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, and this recombinant genome was assembled in a binary vector suitable for plant agroinoculation. The accumulation of GFP was evaluated by observation of green fluorescent signals under UV light and by western blotting. Furthermore, by using this vector, the multiepitope gene for chikungunya virus was successfully expressed and confirmed by western blotting. This PMMoV-based vector represents an alternative system for a high-level production of heterologous protein in plants.

     

Improvement of the movement and host range properties of a plant virus vector through DNA shuffling

Virus expression vectors based on the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) genome are powerful tools for foreign gene expression in plants. However, the inclusion of increased genetic load in the form of foreign genes limits the speed of systemic plant invasion and host range of these vectors due to reduced replication and movement efficiencies. To improve these properties of TMV vectors, the gene encoding the 30-kDa movement protein was subjected to mutagenesis and DNA shuffling. A vector that expresses the green fluorescent protein was used to allow simple visual discrimination of mutants with enhanced movement phenotypes. An initial round of mutagenesis produced 53 clones with a faster local movement phenotype. Two subsequent rounds of DNA shuffling produced additional clones that showed further increased rates of cell-to-cell movement and degrees of systemic invasion in restrictive hosts. Surprisingly, sequence analysis of the best performing shuffled genes revealed alterations resulting in coding and silent changes in the movement protein gene. Separation of these coding and silent alterations into distinct gene backgrounds revealed that each contributes to improved movement protein function to differing degrees. The resulting vectors demonstrate that the complex activities of the movement protein genes of viruses can be evolved to have improved movement phenotypes, as evidenced by cell-to-cell and systemic invasion. The experiments produced improved vectors that will be of use both for in planta functional screening and for therapeutic protein production and demonstrated the power of shuffling for plant virus vector improvement.     

利用Ⅱ型启动子转录的U6 RNA提高植物病毒表达载体在植物中表达外源基因的水平

Ⅱ型启动子转录的外源短链RNA可以竞争性抑制细胞内源mRNA的核质转运,因而可能会提高植物RNA 病毒载体表达的外源基因在植物中的积累. 为了验证这一假说,利用OE-PCR技术合成拟南芥U6-1核内小RNA序列,并构建其Ⅱ型启动子转录的植物表达载体. 以农杆菌渗滤技术,与烟草花叶病毒（Tobacco mosaic virus, TMV）表达载体共接种寄主植物本氏烟,通过对报告基因绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescence protein, GFP）的荧光观察,并以Western印迹和ELISA测定GFP在烟草中的表达情况,分析共表达Ⅱ型启动子转录的U6 RNA对外源基因在植物中表达的作用效果. 结果表明,共接种Ⅱ型启动子转录的U6 RNA对TMV病毒表达载体表达外源基因的水平有明显的增效作用,推测RNA核质转运干扰是提高外源基因表达的可能机制.     

Plant virus expression systems for transient production of recombinant allergens in Nicotiana benthamiana

In recent years, several studies have demonstrated the use of autonomously replicating plant viruses as vehicles to express a variety of therapeutic molecules of pharmaceutical interest. Plant virus vectors for expression of heterologous proteins in plants represent an attractive biotechnological tool to complement the conventional production of recombinant proteins in bacterial, fungal, or mammalian cells. Virus vectors are advantageous when high levels of gene expression are desired within a short time, although the instability of the foreign genes in the viral genome may present problems. Similar levels of foreign protein production in transgenic plants often are unattainable, in some cases because of the toxicity of the foreign protein. Now virus-based vectors are for the first time investigated as a means of producing recombinant allergens in plants. Several plant virus vectors have been developed for the expression of foreign proteins. Here, we describe the utilization of tobacco mosaic virus- and potato virus X-based vectors for the transient expression of plant allergens in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. One approach involves the inoculation of tobacco plants with infectious RNA transcribed in vitro from a cDNA copy of the recombinant viral genome. Another approach utilizes the transfection of whole plants from wounds inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing cDNA copies of recombinant plus-sense RNA viruses.     

Foreign protein production using plant cell and organ cultures: Advantages and limitations

Plants and plant tissue cultures are used as host systems for expression of foreign proteins including antibodies, vaccines and other therapeutic agents. Recombinant or stably transformed plants and plant cell cultures have been applied for foreign protein production for about 20 years. Because the product concentration achieved exerts a major influence on process economics, considerable efforts have been made by commercial and academic research groups to improve foreign protein expression levels. However, post-synthesis product losses due to protease activity within plant tissues and/or extracellular protein adsorption in plant cell cultures can negate the benefits of molecular or genetic enhancement of protein expression. Transient expression of foreign proteins using plant viral vectors is also a practical approach for producing foreign proteins in plants. Adaptation of this technology is required to allow infection and propagation of engineered viruses in plant tissue cultures for transient protein expression in vitro.     

应用RNAi技术培育抗TMV病毒转基因烟草

利用烟草花叶病毒(TMV)外壳蛋白基因构建RNAi干涉载体, 通过叶盘法转化至烟草K326 和龙江911两个栽培品种。对转基因株系的荧光定量PCR分析表明, 不同转基因株系的病毒RNA靶序列都得到一定程度的降解, 抗病性鉴定结果证实, 转基因K326和龙江911两个栽培品种的转基因材料分别有83％和90％转基因株系对TMV呈现免疫级抗性。     

Proteomic analysis of tobacco mosaic virus-infected tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum M.) fruits and detection of viral coat protein

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is a widespread plant virus from the genus Tobamovirus that affects tobacco and tomato plants causing a pathology characterised by cell breakage and disorganisation in plant leaves and fruits. In this study we undertook a proteomic approach to investigate the molecular and biochemical mechanisms potentially involved in tomato fruit defence against the viral infection. The comparison of 2-D gels from control and TMV-infected but asymptomatic tomato fruits revealed changes in several proteins. The differential expression of peptidases, endoglucanase, chitinase and proteins participating in the ascorbate-glutathione cycle in infected fruits suggests that pathogenesis-related proteins and antioxidant enzymes may play a role in the protection against TMV infection. TMV coat protein appeared as a prominent spot in 2-D gels from TMV-infected asymptomatic fruits. A Triton X-114 phase-partitioning step of tomato protein extracts favoured the solubilisation of TMV coat protein and the enrichment of two aminopeptidases not present in control fruits. PMF and MS/MS data of the 2-D gel-isolated TMV coat protein is proposed as a powerful analysis method for the simultaneous tobamovirus detection, species determination and strain differentiation in virus-infected fruit commodities.     

Engineering zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus as a non-pathogenic vector for expression of heterologous proteins in cucurbits

Plant virus vectors provide an attractive biotechnological tool for the transient expression of foreign genes in whole plants. As yet there has been no use of recombinant viruses for the improvement of commercial crops. This is mainly because the viruses used to create vectors usually cause significant yield loss and can be transmitted in the field. A novel attenuated zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (AG) was used for the development of an environmentally safe non-pathogenic virus vector. The suitability of AG as an expression vector in plants was tested by analysis of two infectious viral constructs, each containing a distinct gene insertion site. Introduction of a foreign viral coat protein gene into AG genome between the P1 and HC-Pro genes, resulted in no expression in planta. In contrast, the same gene was stably expressed when inserted between NIb and CP genes, suggesting that this site is more suitable for a gene vector. Virus-mediated expression of reporter genes was observed in squash and cucumber leaves, stems, roots and edible fruit. Furthermore, AG stably expressed human interferon-alpha 2, an important human anti-viral drug, without affecting plant development and yield. Interferon biological activity was measured in cucumber and squash fruit. Together, these data corroborate a biotechnological utility of AG as a non-pathogenic vector for the expression of a foreign gene, as a benefit trait, in cucurbits and their edible fruit.     

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。     

Genetic analysis of the virD operon of Agrobacterium tumefaciens: a search for functions involved in transport of T-DNA into the plant cell nucleus and in T-DNA integration.

The transferred DNA (T-DNA) is transported from Agrobacterium tumefaciens to the nucleus and is stably integrated into the genome of many plant species. It has been proposed that the VirD2 protein, tightly attached to the T-DNA, pilots the T-DNA into the plant cell nucleus and that it is involved in integration. Using agroinfection and beta-glucuronidase expression as two different very sensitive transient assays for T-DNA transfer, together with assays for stable integration, we have shown that the C-terminal half of the VirD2 protein and the VirD3 protein are not involved in T-DNA integration. However, the bipartite nuclear localization signal, which is located within the C terminus of the VirD2 protein and which has previously been shown to be able to target a foreign protein into the plant cell nucleus, was shown to be required for efficient T-DNA transfer. virD4 mutants were shown by agroinfection to be completely inactive in T-DNA transfer.     

植物RNA病毒载体构建策略

作为对传统的植物转化载体的补充,植物ＲＮＡ病毒载体具有受体植物广泛,且转化需要的时间短,特别适宜于大量表达外源基因．虽然外源基因的稳定性存在一定的问题,但大量的事例说明,作为一种新型的外源基因在植物中表达的载体,它具有其独到的特点．本文就最新利用ＲＮＡ病毒转化植物的报道进行了综述     

Transient protein expression in three Pisum sativum (green pea) varieties

The expression of proteins in plants both transiently and via permanently transformed lines has been demonstrated by a number of groups. Transient plant expression systems, due to high expression levels and speed of production, show greater promise for the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals when compared to permanent transformants. Expression vectors based on a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) are the most commonly utilized and the primary plant used, Nicotiana benthamiana, has demonstrated the ability to express a wide range of proteins at levels amenable to purification. N. benthamiana has two limitations for its use; one is its relatively slow growth, and the other is its low biomass. To address these limitations we screened a number of legumes for transient protein expression. Using the alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and the cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) vectors, delivered via Agrobacterium, we were able to identify three Pisum sativum varieties that demonstrated protein expression transiently. Expression levels of 420 ( 26.24 mg GFP/kgFW in the green pea variety speckled pea were achieved. We were also able to express three therapeutic proteins indicating promise for this system in the production of biopharmaceuticals.     

Genetically engineered transgenic plants with the domain 1 sequence of tobacco mosaic virus 126 kDa protein gene are completely resistant to viral infection

In many plant RNA viruses, Domains 1, 2 and 3 are conserved in replicase proteins. In order to examine the interference of viral replication by the Domain 1 sequence, we generated transgenic plants transformed with DNA corresponding to the Domain 1 sequence of the TMV 126 kDa protein. This DNA sequence includes the TMV RNA from nucleotides 1 to 2,149, which comprises both the 5'-untranslated and methyl transferase region. The transgenic plants obtained showed complete resistance to TMV infection. The presence of the Domain 1 sequence in the plants completely prevented local necrosis in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc, and any systemic development of symptoms in Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi upon TMV inoculation. Most transgenic plants sustained the conferred resistance even under TMV inoculum concentrations up to as high as 1,000 microg/ml. To detect any accumulation of TMV coat protein or viral RNA in infected transgenic plants, immunochemical tests and Northern blot analyses were carried out. Neither viral RNA or coat protein was detectable in the systemic leaves of the completely resistant transgenic plants, whereas they were accumulated in large quantities in all of the control plants. Because of the conservation of Domain 1 in many plant RNA viruses, the acquisition of resistance to virus infection using the Domain 1 sequence appears to be a very effective strategy for breeding of viral resistant plants.     

High level protein expression in plants through the use of a novel autonomously replicating geminivirus shuttle vector

We constructed a novel autonomously replicating gene expression shuttle vector, with the aim of developing a system for transiently expressing proteins at levels useful for commercial production of vaccines and other proteins in plants. The vector, pRIC, is based on the mild strain of the geminivirus Bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV-m) and is replicationally released into plant cells from a recombinant Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid. pRIC differs from most other geminivirus-based vectors in that the BeYDV replication-associated elements were included in cis rather than from a co-transfected plasmid, while the BeYDV capsid protein (CP) and movement protein (MP) genes were replaced by an antigen encoding transgene expression cassette derived from the non-replicating A. tumefaciens vector, pTRAc. We tested vector efficacy in Nicotiana benthamiana by comparing transient cytoplasmic expression between pRIC and pTRAc constructs encoding either enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or the subunit vaccine antigens, human papillomavirus subtype 16 (HPV-16) major CP L1 and human immunodeficiency virus subtype C p24 antigen. The pRIC constructs were amplified in planta by up to two orders of magnitude by replication, while 50% more HPV-16 L1 and three- to seven-fold more EGFP and HIV-1 p24 were expressed from pRIC than from pTRAc. Vector replication was shown to be correlated with increased protein expression. We anticipate that this new high-yielding plant expression vector will contribute towards the development of a viable plant production platform for vaccine candidates and other pharmaceuticals.     

Human Defensin-1 (HNP-1) Expression in Tobacco: A Preliminary Observation on Anti-TMV Activity of the Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Human defensin-1 (human neutrophil peptide-1, HNP-1) is one of the small peptides found recently in human neutrophils with high antimicrobial activity of broad spectra. In this work, HNP-1 plant expression vectors with different promoter, with prepropiece and without the pre- and most part of propiece of HNP-1 cDNA have been constructed, and a serial of agrobacteria have been reconstructed using these vectors by tri-gameting. Tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. ) leaf discs were infected with these reconstructed agrobacteria and plants regenerated after about 1 month. Southern blotting analysis showed that HNP-1 cDNA had been integrated in tobacco genome, but ELISA analysis indicated that only transgenic plants infected with agrobacteria contained HNP-1 expression vectors with an improved CaMV 35S promoter and without pre- and most part of the propiece of HNP-1 cDNA can express HNP-1 at Iow level. Information from electron microscopic observation and external feature of the plants showed that these plants had the ability to defend plants from TMV infection at a certain concentration (0.2 to 0.8 mg/L). It was concluded that it was a prerequisite to introduce an efficient promoter to an expression vector for an effective expression of a foreign cDNA, and it was necessary to delete the pre- and most part of the propiece of an animal cDNA for its expression in plants. Furthermore, HNP-1 cDNA transferring into plants could create a novel method to produce antipathogenic crops.     

人防御素—1转基因烟草的获得及其抗TMV的初步观察

人中性粒细胞防御素是一类具有广谱杀伤病原微生物活力的小分子多肽,有作者设想将其导入作物用于抗病育种。我们前期的工作通过RT-PCR建立了人中性粒细胞防御素-1(HNP-1)的cDNA克隆;接着通过农杆菌介导的方法,将HNP-1 cDNA片段导入烟草,尝试了HNP-1在烟草植株水平的表达,并初步证明获得的转基因烟草对低浓度烟草花叶病毒(TMV)侵染有一定抵抗力。