Highly efficient and economical baculovirus expression system for preparing human papillomavirus type16 virus-like particle

To improve the existing human papillomavirus type16 (HPV16) virus-like particle (VLP) preparation, a highly efficient, economical and timesaving system was established. Sf-9 cells were infected with recombinant baculovirus containing the target gene encoding HPV16L1 protein with 6xHis tag, and harvested 72 h postinfection (p.i.) at 27 degrees. The ProBond(TM) purification system was used for protein purification. The molecular weight of expressed HPV16L1 protein was 58 kD as revealed by SDS-PAGE, and confirmed by Western blot. The purity of denatured and native HPVL1 proteins that were prepared were 91.9% and 71.5%, respectively, which corresponded to a yield of 2.26 mg denatured protein and 1.84 mg native protein per 2x10(7) cells. The proteins were further analyzed by mouse erythrocyte hemagglutination assay and hemagglutination inhibition assay, and there effects on VLP formation were also visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that the native protein purified was biologically active as natural HPVL1 protein, inducing the murine erythrocyte agglutination and VLP formation. In addition, the purified recombinant HPV16L1 native protein with 6xHis tag could self-assemble into virions in vitro. Hopefully, the present expression and purification system is promising to be convenient, timesaving and economical for preparation of HPV16 VLP vaccine.     

Expression of human papillomavirus type 16 L1 protein in transgenic tobacco plants

To develop a plant expression system for the production of the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) vaccine, we investigated whether the HPV16 L1 protein can be expressed in tobacco plants and whether it can be used as the cheapest form of edible vaccine. The HPV16 L1 coding sequence was amplified by PCR using specific primers from the plasmid pGEM-T-HPV16 containing the template sequence, and subcloned into the intermediate vector pUCmT and binary vector pBI121 consecutively to obtain the plant expression plasmid pBI-L1. The T-DNA regions of the pBI-L1 binary vector contained the constitutive Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and the neomycin phosphotransferase npt Ⅱ gene, which allowed the selection of transformed plants using kanamycin. The tobacco plants were transformed by cocultivating them, using the leaf disc method, with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404, which harbored the plant expression plasmid. The regenerated transgenic tobacco plants were selected using kanamycin, and confirmed by PCR. The results of the Southern blot assay also showed that the HPV16 L1 gene was integrated stably into the genome of the transformed tobacco plants. The Western blot analysis showed that the transformed tobacco leaves could express the HPV 16 L1 protein. Furthermore, it was demonstrated by ELISA assay that the expressed protein accounted for 0.034%-0.076% of the total soluble leaf protein, was able to form 55nm virus-like particles compatible with HPV virus-like particle (VLP), and induced mouse erythrocyte hemagglutination in vitro. The present results indicate that the HPV 16 L1 protein can be expressed in transgenic tobacco plants and the expressed protein possesses the natural features of the HPV16 L1 protein, implying that the HPV16 L1 transgenic plants can be potentially used as an edible vaccine.     

人乳头瘤病毒16L1-减毒志贺氏杆菌为载体疫苗的构建及免疫效应初步鉴定

为预防高危型人乳头瘤病毒16型(HPV16)诱发宫颈癌,制备以减毒志贺氏杆菌为载体的HPV16预防疫苗,以期载体可介导机体产生粘膜免疫反应,达到预防HPVl6感染的目的。为此构建了以HPV16L1为免疫原的减毒志贺氏杆菌苗,并初步鉴定候选疫苗的减毒特性和免疫效果。利用基于志贺氏杆菌virG／icsA基因的表达载体(pHS3199),将HPV16L1基因插入后构成pHS3199-hpv16L1质粒,电穿孔法将其转入减毒志贺氏杆菌sh42,经筛选获得重组减毒sh42-HPV16L1工程菌。用免疫印迹法检测HPV16L1蛋白表达,连续传代法确定其传代和目的蛋白表达的稳定性;豚鼠角膜巩膜炎症试验检测细菌的毒力和菌苗的免疫效果;小鼠红细胞凝集抑制试验检测免疫血清对病毒样颗粒(VLP)的中和活性。免疫印迹检测证实,重组菌株sh42-HPV16L1可稳定表达HPV16L1;豚鼠角膜巩膜炎症试验证实,该候选菌苗无致病性。减毒sh42-HPV16L1经结膜囊途径免疫豚鼠,可以产生特异性体液免疫应答,免疫动物体内的血清、肠道、阴道分泌物中抗HPV16L1 VLPIgG、IgA含量显著高于对照组,并且sh42-HPV16L1免疫动物血清可明显抑制HPV16L1 VLP引起的小鼠红细胞凝集。因而sh42-HPV16L1将是一种潜在的HPV16候选预防疫苗。     

Efficient self-assembly of human papillomavirus type 16 L1 and L1-L2 into virus-like particles.

The L1 genes of two human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) isolates derived from condylomata acuminata were used to express the L1 major capsid protein in insect cells via recombinant baculoviruses. Both L1 major capsid proteins self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLP) with high efficiency and could be purified in preparative amounts on density gradients. The yield of VLP was 3 orders of magnitude higher than what has been obtained previously, using L1 derived from the prototype HPV16. DNA sequence comparison identified a single nonconserved amino acid change to be responsible for the inefficient self-assembly of the prototype L1. VLP were also obtained by expressing L1 of HPV6, HPV11, and cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, indicating that L1 from a variety of papillomaviruses has the intrinsic capacity to self-assemble into VLP. Coexpression of HPV16 L1 plus L2 by using a baculovirus double-expression vector also resulted in efficient self-assembly of VLP, and the average particle yield increased about fourfold in comparison to when L1 only was expressed. Coimmunoprecipitation of L1 and L2 and cosedimentation of the two proteins in a sucrose gradient demonstrated that L2 was incorporated into the particles. The ability to generate preparative amounts of HPV16 L1 and L1-L2 VLP may have implications for the development of a serological assay to detect anti-HPV16 virion immune responses to conformational epitopes and for immunoprophylaxis against HPV16 infection.     

利用重组HPV16L1抗原检测宫颈癌抗L1或VLP抗体的对比

为了评价重组大肠杆菌表达的HPV16L1蛋白和重组腺病毒表达的HPV16L1 VLP两种抗原在检测宫颈癌抗 16L1或VLP抗体及在宫颈癌血清学诊断意义上的差别 ,应用PCR技术从宫颈癌组织的DNA中扩增出全长15 35bp的HPV16L1基因片段 ,克隆至 pUC18 T载体中 ,进行DNA测序鉴定。然后 ,将HPV16L1基因克隆至pGEX 2T表达载体中 ,并诱导表达HPV16L1融合蛋白 ,分子量为 83kD ,能被HPV16L1单克隆抗体所识别。经GST柱层析法纯化后 ,与重组腺病毒表达的HPV16L1 VLP分别经酶联免疫吸附 (ELISA)法检测 12份宫颈癌患者和 35份献血员血清。 12例宫颈癌血清标本中 ,抗HPV16L1蛋白的抗体阳性率为 7例 (占 5 8.3% ) ;抗HPV16L1 VLP的抗体阳性率为 8例 (占 6 6 .7% )。经大肠杆菌表达的重组抗原HPV16L1检测为HPV16抗体IgG( )的 7份患者血清 ,利用HPV16L1 VLP试剂盒检测均阳性 ;经大肠杆菌表达的重组抗原检测为HPV16抗体IgG( )的 5份患者血清 ,利用HPV16L1 VLP试剂盒检测有 1份阳性。两者对HPV16抗体的阳性检出率并无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。本实验结果说明HPV16与宫颈癌高度相关 ,利用大肠杆菌表达的重组抗原HPV16L1和HPV16L1 VLP重组抗原检测抗体的敏感性并不受影响。利用重组抗原HPV16L1对宫颈癌的抗体进行定性、定量分析有助于该疾病     

HPV 58 L1改造基因的表达及其VLP产物抗血清制备

高危型人乳头瘤病毒（human papillomavirus, HPV）慢性持续性感染是诱发宫颈癌的主要病因．体外表达的HPV主要衣壳蛋白（L1）可自组装成病毒样颗粒（virus-like particle, VLP）,免疫后可诱导产生型别特异性中和抗体,有效保护机体免受同型病毒的感染,因此可望预防病毒感染及感染相关的宫颈癌等病变．HPV 58是诱发我国妇女宫颈癌的主要高危型病毒之一,目前尚无针对HPV 58的疫苗问世．本研究联合采用多种策略对HPV 58 L1野生型基因进行改造,获得HPV 58 L1改造基因,命名为HPV 58mL1,用杆状病毒 昆虫细胞表达系统进行HPV 58 mL1的表达,CsCl密度梯度离心法纯化获得HPV 58 mL1重组蛋白,电镜分析结果显示,重组蛋白形成直径约55 nm的VLP．皮下免疫新西兰兔和豚鼠,ELISA检测显示,免疫动物产生高滴度针对HPV 58 mL1 VLP的抗血清,免疫斑点印迹检测显示,抗血清是针对VLP表面表位的．本研究表达了均一性好的HPV 58 mL1 VLP,并获得两个种属的HPV 58 mL1 VLP抗血清,为进一步研究有效预防HPV 58感染的疫苗打下基础．     

原核表达系统制备HPV58L1 VLP可诱发高滴度且持久的中和抗体

目的:采用大肠杆菌表达系统制备人乳头瘤病毒58型(human papillomavirus type 58,HPV58)病毒样颗粒(virus-like particle,VLP)疫苗。方法:合成法获得HPV58 L1大肠杆菌密码子优化基因,构建HPV58 L1重组原核表达质粒mpET22b/HPV58 L1,检测其在BL21(DE3)中表达水平,饱和硫酸铵沉淀加阳离子交换层析法纯化蛋白后进行动态光散射(dynamic light scatter,DLS)分析。小鼠免疫后,检测免疫血清针对HPV58假病毒的中和抗体水平。结果:HPV58 L1蛋白在BL21(DE3)细胞中大部分以可溶形式表达,纯化获得的HPV58 L1蛋白可组装成水动力学直径约为74 nm的VLP。0.5μg的HPV58 L1 VLP可诱发小鼠产生高滴度的HPV58特异性中和抗体,可维持至少20周。结论:原核表达系统制备的HPV58 L1 VLP可诱发高滴度且持久的中和抗体,可用于成本低的HPV58疫苗的研究。     

HPV16 L1蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及免疫原性研究

用IPTG诱导目的工程菌pQE31-HPV16L1/M15(pREP4),对表达产物进行SDSPAGE和Western blot分析;用表达的L1蛋白免疫BAL B/C小鼠得到抗血清后,利用真核源性的VLP粗提物验证小鼠抗血清的特异性.利用IMAC金属亲和层析柱纯化L1蛋白.SDSPAGE结果显示表达产物在约57 ku处有蛋白条带;Western blot结果证实此条带可与HPV16 L1蛋白的单克隆抗体反应;纯化后的L1蛋白也同样保留免疫特异性;小鼠抗血清可与HPV16L1 VLP(病毒样颗粒)发生特异性反应,证实重组表达的L1蛋白具有免疫原性.本实验表明HPV16 L1蛋白在工程菌M15(pREP4)中高效表达,为研制HPV16预防性基因工程疫苗和感染的诊断试剂提供了物质基础和技术方法.     

截短型人乳头瘤病毒58型L1蛋白的表达及其体外生物活性研究

利用PCR技术克隆截短型HPV58 L1基因并重组入杆状病毒表达系统穿梭质粒pFastBac-Htb,通过转座反应,将目的基因片段重组入杆状病毒基因组,分离重组的Bacmid DNA, 并转染Sf-9昆虫细胞,收集被转染的Sf-9细胞,提取细胞蛋白,SDS-PAGE检测可见在大约58Kda处出现一新生蛋白条带,Western blot 证实为HPV58L1蛋白。用ProBondTM纯化系统纯化所表达的蛋白。小鼠红细胞凝集试验证实纯化的蛋白可介导小鼠红细胞凝集,透射电镜观察证实纯化蛋白可自组装成VLP。结果表明昆虫杆状病毒表达系统可高效表达截短型HPV58L1蛋白,纯化后的截短型HPV58L1蛋白在体外可自组装VLP,并具有介导小鼠红细胞凝集的生物学活性。     

Construction of prophylactic human papillomavirus type 16 L1 capsid protein vaccine delivered by live attenuated Shigella flexneri strain sh42

To express human papillomavirus （HPV） L 1 capsid protein in the recombinant strain of Shigella and study the potential of a live attenuated Shigella-based HPV prophylactic vaccine in preventing HPV infection, the icsA/virG fragment of Shigella-based prokaryotic expression plasmid pHS3199 was constructed. HPV type 16 L1 （HPV16L1） gene was inserted into plasmid pHS3199 to form the pHS3199-HPV16L1 construct, and pHS3199-HPV 16L1 was electroporated into a live attenuated Shigella strain sh42. Western blotting analysis showed that HPV 16L 1 could be expressed stably in the recombinant strain sh42-HPV 16L 1. Sereny test results were negative, which showed that the sh42-HPV16L1 lost virulence. However, the attenuated recombinant strain partially maintained the invasive property as indicated by the HeLa cell infection assay. Specific IgG, IgA antibody against HPV16L1 virus-like particles （VLPs） were detected in the sera, intestinal lavage and vaginal lavage from animals immunized by sh42-HPV 16L1. The number of antibodysecreting cells in the spleen and draining lymph nodes were increased significantly compared with the control group. Sera from immunized animals inhibited mufine hemagglutination induced by HPV 16L1 VLPs, which indicated that the candidate vaccine could stimulate an efficient immune response in guinea pig＇s mucosal sites. This may be an effective strategy for the development of an HPV prophylactic oral vaccine.     

Transient expression of human papillomavirus type 16 virus-like particles in tobacco and tomato using a tobacco rattle virus expression vector

The major capsid protein L1 of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) was transiently expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana and Nicotiana tabacum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) leaves using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The expression vector pTV00 was derived from tobacco rattle virus (TRV). The highest L1 expression 15 μg g⁻¹(f.m.) was achieved when the coding sequence of L1 was optimized for expression in humans that caused an increase of the guanine and cytosine (GC) content from 38.2 % in wild type HPV16 to 64.1 % in optimized sequence. L1 monomers readily self-assembled into capsomeres and further into virus like particles (VLPs). Immunological characterization and electron microscopy showed that 89 % of L1 retained VLP structure also in extracts prepared from freeze-dried leaves. Plant expressed L1 in crude extracts was highly immunogenic without any additional adjuvant as vaccinated mice developed strong humoral and cellular immune response, comparable to that elicited by purified VLPs derived from insect cells. Further, the induced antibodies effectively neutralized infection of 293TT cells with pseudovirions. This finding demonstrates that the TRV expression system is comparable to other plant expression systems and due to the broad host range of TRV is particularly attractive when expression in plants with low content of toxic alkaloids is desired. Moreover, a monoclonal anti-L1 antibody E2 raised in the course of immunization with crude extract from freeze-dried leaves expressing L1 is specific preferentially against HPV VLPs and could be used in direct ELISA for monitoring of VLPs assembly and VLP purification protocols.     

Enhancement of vaccine potency by fusing modified LTK63 into human papillomavirus type 16 chimeric virus-like particles

To enhance the immunogenicity of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV 16) virus-like particles (VLPs), the modified adjuvant, mLTK63, was fused to the C-terminus of HPV 16 L2 protein. Coexpression of HPV 16 L1 and L2-mLTK63 proteins in insect cells led to the efficient assembly of HPV 16 L1/L2-mLTK63 chimeric VLPs (cVLPs), which combined the antigen and adjuvant as a unit. Compared with HPV 16 L1/L2 VLPs, the HPV 16 L1/L2-mLTK63 cVLPs had similar structural biology characteristics and binding activities with the cell surface receptors and HPV 16-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Intramuscular immunization of BALB/c mice with the HPV 16 L1/L2-mLTK63 cVLPs could induce higher titers of HPV 16-specific long-lasting neutralizing serum antibodies and stronger splenocyte proliferation, Th1- and Th2-type cytokines and CD4(+) Th responses than HPV 16 L1/L2 VLPs. The results suggested that it is possible to enhance the immunogenicity of HPV VLP vaccines via a strategy of fusing effective adjuvant protein into cVLPs.     

利用昆虫-杆状病毒表达系统表达人乳头瘤病毒16/18/33/58亚型L1蛋白

目的:通过昆虫-杆状病毒表达系统获得人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)16/18/33/58亚型的主要衣壳蛋白L1。方法:克隆了HPV16/18/33/58亚型的L1蛋白基因,并采用密码子优化策略进行改造(记为HPV16/18/33/58亚型mL1),将优化基因片段插入pFastBac Dual载体获得重组载体,转化大肠杆菌DH10Bac感受态细胞后得到重组Bacmid,转染昆虫Sf9细胞,Western印迹和SDS-PAGE检测重组蛋白的表达。结果:获得了表达HPV16/18/33/58亚型mL1蛋白的重组杆状病毒;Western印迹和SDS-PAGE分析表明该重组杆状病毒感染昆虫Sf9细胞后表达mL1蛋白,且mL1蛋白主要分布在细胞中;优化了蛋白表达时间和感染复数,获得目的蛋白mL1的高效表达。结论:多个亚型HPV L1蛋白的克隆表达,为中国优势血清型疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

Development of Bead-based Immunoassay to Quantify Neutralizing Antibody for Human Papillomavirus 16 and 18

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has drawn great attention globally because of its association with virtually all (99 %) cases of cervical cancer. HPV virus-like particles (VLPs) have been implicated as an effective HPV vaccine candidate. In this study, we optimized the relevant parameters for bacterial production of high-risk HPV16 and HPV18 VLP L1 proteins. The combination of glutathione S-transferase fusion and late log phase culture induction enhanced the solubility and yield of HPV L1 proteins. For detection and quantification of HPV-16 and -18 antibodies, a Luminex-based competitive immunoassay was developed for use in vaccine clinical trials. The characteristics of the assay that were optimized included monoclonal antibody specificity, conjugation of VLP to microspheres, VLP concentration, antibody concentration, dilution of samples, and incubation time. No cross-reactivity occurred. This immunoassay was proven to be sensitive and accurate, and is potentially valuable for vaccine candidate evaluation and clinical use.     

A Chimeric 18L1-45RG1 Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Cross-Protects against Oncogenic Alpha-7 Human Papillomavirus Types

Persistent infection with oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPV) types causes all cervical and a subset of other anogenital and oropharyngeal carcinomas. Four high-risk (hr) mucosal types HPV16, 18, 45, or 59 cause almost all cervical adenocarcinomas (AC), a subset of cervical cancer (CxC). Although the incidence of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has dramatically decreased following introduction of Papanicolaou (PAP) screening, the proportion of AC has relatively increased. Cervical SCC arise mainly from the ectocervix, whereas AC originate primarily from the endocervical canal, which is less accessible to obtain viable PAP smears. Licensed (bivalent and quadrivalent) HPV vaccines comprise virus-like particles (VLP) of the most important hr HPV16 and 18, self-assembled from the major capsid protein L1. Due to mainly type-restricted efficacy, both vaccines do not target 13 additional hr mucosal types causing 30% of CxC. The papillomavirus genus alpha species 7 (α7) includes a group of hr types of which HPV18, 45, 59 are proportionally overrepresented in cervical AC and only partially (HPV18) targeted by current vaccines. To target these types, we generated a chimeric vaccine antigen that consists of a cross-neutralizing epitope (homologue of HPV16 RG1) of the L2 minor capsid protein of HPV45 genetically inserted into a surface loop of HPV18 L1 VLP (18L1-45RG1). Vaccination of NZW rabbits with 18L1-45RG1 VLP plus alum-MPL adjuvant induced high-titer neutralizing antibodies against homologous HPV18, that cross-neutralized non-cognate hr α7 types HPV39, 45, 68, but not HPV59, and low risk HPV70 in vitro, and induced a robust L1-specific cellular immune response. Passive immunization protected mice against experimental vaginal challenge with pseudovirions of HPV18, 39, 45 and 68, but not HPV59 or the distantly related α9 type HPV16. 18L1-45RG1 VLP might be combined with our previously described 16L1-16RG1 VLP to develop a second generation bivalent vaccine with extended spectrum against hr HPV.     

腺病毒载体介导密码子优化型HPV 16 L1基因在哺乳动物细胞中的高效表达及病毒样颗粒的装配

为研究重组腺病毒载体作为HPV16预防性疫苗的可行性,构建了含密码子优化型HPV 16 L1基因的重组腺病毒,并对优化基因在哺乳动物细胞中的表达进行研究。首先按照哺乳动物密码子偏好对野生型HPV16 L1基因进行改造并合成优化基因,命名为mod.HPV16L1。将mod.HPV16L1基因克隆到穿梭质粒PDC316上,与骨架质粒共转染293细胞,在细胞内包装重组腺病毒rAd-mod.HPV16L1。用免疫印迹法检测病毒感染的293T细胞中HPV16L1蛋白的表达。通过Optiprep密度梯度超速离心法纯化HPV16 L1病毒样颗粒(VLPs)。用磷钨酸负染,在电子显微镜下观察HPV16 L1蛋白自我装配形成的VLPs。结果显示,重组腺病毒载体可介导mod.HPV16 L1基因在哺乳动物细胞内的高效表达,L1蛋白可自我装配形成VLPs。     

表达HPV16 L1抗原的1型重组AAV载体免疫效果的研究

为研究1型重组腺病毒伴随病毒(Adeno-associated virus type 1,AAV1)载体作为HPV16预防性疫苗的可行性,构建含密码子优化型HPV16L1基因(mod.HPV16L1)的1型重组AAV载体rAAV1-mod.HPV16L1,将纯化的rAAV1-mod.HPV16L1以肌注和滴鼻途径分别免疫C57BL/6小鼠,使用体外中和实验检测血清中的特异性中和抗体.结果显示,rAAV1-mod.HPV16L1单针肌注及滴鼻免疫均可诱导特异性血清中和抗体,但二组抗体动态变化趋势不同,肌注组血清中和抗体滴度显著高于滴鼻组.rAAV1-mod.HPV16L1单针肌注免疫可诱导强而持久的血清中和抗体,是理想的候选HPV16预防性疫苗.