ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To express St. Louis encephalitis virus-like particles in mammalian cells, it will provide a prerequisite for further immunological diagnostic studies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>293T-cell were transiently transfected with recombinant PreM-E plasmid. Expression and antigenicity of the purified protein were determined by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Western-Blot, immunofluorescence assay and ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Recombinant subviral particles, about 50 nm in diameter, were observed by TEM in the supernatant of transfected cells. The results of Western-Blot, IFA and ELISA showed the recombinant proteins retained immunoreactivity similar to those of native virus proteins.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>St. Louis encephalitis virus-like particles has good antigenicity and physical appearance. It will provide a prerequisite for further immune diagnostic reagent.</p>