Cloning, expression and purification of Plasmodium knowlesi circumsporozoite protein and immunoblot analysis with P. knowlesi strain A1H1 protein extract

@#Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is a sporozoite major surface protein of Plasmodium species. The protein showed promising protection level as a vaccine candidate against Plasmodium falciparum infection. There is a lack of studies on P. knowlesi CSP (PkCSP) as a vaccine candidate due to the high polymorphic characteristic of central repeat region. Recent studies showed the protein has a relatively conserved region at the C-terminal, which consists of T- and B-cell epitopes. This could be the target region for vaccine development against the pre-erythrocytic stage of the parasite. In this study, recombinant PkCSP was expressed using Escherichia coli system. Recombinant PkCSP was immunized in animal models and the antiserum was evaluated using immunoblot analysis. Results showed that PkCSP can be successfully expressed using the bacterial system. Endpoint titre of the antiserum were ranged up to 1:819200. Immunoblot analysis showed the antiserum recognized recombinant PkCSP but not total protein extract from P. knowlesi erythrocytic stage. In conclusion, PkCSP could elicit strong immune response in animal models. However, serum antibodies could not recognize protein from the parasite’s erythrocytic stage extract indicating it is not expressed at the erythrocytic stage. Therefore, PkCSP remains as a potential pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate against P. knowlesi infection.

Development and evaluation of a novel method for rapid screening of Pichia pastoris strains capable of efficiently expressing recombinant proteins / 生物工程学报

Pichia pastoris is one of the most widely used recombinant protein expression systems. In this study, a novel method for rapid screening of P. pastoris strains capable of efficiently expressing recombinant proteins was developed. Firstly, the ability to express recombinant proteins of the modified strain GS115-E in which a functional Sec63-EGFP (Enhanced green fluorescent protein) fusion protein replaced the endogenous endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein Sec63 was tested. Next, the plasmids carrying different copy numbers of phytase (phy) gene or xylanase (xyn) gene were transformed into GS115-E to obtain recombinant strains with different expression levels of phytase or xylanase, and the expression levels of EGFP and recombinant proteins in different strains were tested. Finally, a flow cytometer sorter was used to separate a mixture of cells with different phytase expression levels into sub-populations according to green fluorescence intensity. A good linear correlation was found between the fluorescence intensities of EGFP and the expression levels of the recombinant proteins in the recombinant strains (0.8<|R|<1). By using the flow cytometer, high-yielding P. pastoris cells were efficiently screened from a mixture of cells. The expression level of phytase of the selected high-fluorescence strains was 4.09 times higher than that of the low-fluorescence strains after 120 h of methanol induction. By detecting the EGFP fluorescence intensity instead of detecting the expression level and activity of the recombinant proteins in the recombinant strains, the method developed by the present study possesses the greatly improved performance of convenience and versatility in screening high-yielding P. pastoris strains. Combining the method with high-throughput screening instruments and technologies, such as flow cytometer and droplet microfluidics, the speed and throughput of this method will be further increased. This method will provide a simple and rapid approach for screening and obtaining P. pastoris with high abilities to express recombinant proteins.

Production of Restriction Endonuclease Not Ⅰ Utilizing CpG DNA Methylase M.Sss Ⅰ Co-expression Vector / 中国生物工程杂志

Restriction endonucleases are important molecular biology tools for DNA recombination.Because of the cleavage of DNA,their recombinant expression is difficult with low yields and complicated purification processes.In commercial productions,the technology that uses specific methylases to protect host DNA from digestion of the expressed restriction enzymes was cumbersome and practically limited.For solving this problem the expression of restriction enzyme Not Ⅰ was performed by using the DNA methylase M.Sss Ⅰ derived from Spiroplasma sp.MQ1 which specifically kept CpG sequence methylated.The methylated DNA was protected from the cutting of Not Ⅰ whose recognition sequence contained CpG.The gene of methylase M.Sss Ⅰ was introduced into Escherichia coli ER2566 and constitutively expressed,resulting in the CpG methylation pattern of the host DNA.Restriction enzyme Not Ⅰ was successfully expressed in this E.coli strain.Furthermore,by adding a purification tag to one terminus of the enzyme,recombinant Not Ⅰ was prepared as a highly purified and active product through two simple Ni-affinity and anion exchange chromatography steps.This expression system can be applied for the preparation of a series of restriction enzymes with CpG in their recognition sequences.

Comparing the expression of human DNA topoisomerase I in KM71H and X33 strains of Pichia pastoris

Background: Human is an essential cellular enzyme that is found in all human cells. As this enzyme is upregulated in cancer cells exceedingly, it is used as a target for cancer chemotherapeutic drug development. As such, producing the in-house enzyme for the purpose to speed up the search for more cost-effective and target specific hTopoI inhibitors is warranted. This study aims to compare the optimised conditions for the expression of hTopoI in KM71H (MutS) and X33 (Mut+) strains of Pichia pastoris. P. pastoris transfected with an hTopoI recombinant vector was used for the optimization of a higher level of hTopoI expression. Results: In the process, fed-batch cultivation parameters that influence the expression of hTopoI, such as culture temperature, methanol induction and feeding strategy, were optimised in the transfected KM71H and X33 P. pastoris strains in a shake flask system. The cell density and total protein concentration (protein level) of transfected P. pastoris were compared to determine the optimum culture conditions for each transfected P. pastoris strain. A higher hTopoI level was observed in the transfected KM71H culture supernatant (2.26 ng/mL) when the culture was incubated in the optimum conditions. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that MutS strain (KM71H) expressed and secreted a higher level of hTopoI heterologous protein in the presence of methanol compared to the Mut+ strain; X33 (0.75 ng/mL). However, other aspects of optimization, such as pH, should also be considered in the future, to obtain the optimum expression level of hTopoI in P. pastoris.

Susceptibility to AcMNPV and Expression of Recombinant Proteins by a Novel Cell Clone Derived from a Trichoplusia ni QAU-BTI-Tn9-4s Cell Line / 中国病毒学·英文版

It is well known that Tn5B1-4(commercially known as the High Five)cell line is highly susceptible to baculovirus and provides superior production of recombinant proteins when compared to other insect cell lines.But the characteristics of the cell line do not always remain stable and may change upon continuous passage.Recently an alphanodavirus,named Tn5 Cell Line Virus(or TNCL Virus),was identified in High Five cells in particular. Therefore,we established a new cell line,QB-Tn9-4s,from Trichoplusia ni,which was determined to be free of TNCL virus by RT-PCR analysis. In this paper,we describe the development of a novel cell clone,QB-CL-B,from a low passage QB-Tn9-4s cell line and report its susceptibility to ACMNPV,and the level of recombinant protein production. This cell clone was similar to its parental cells QB-Tn9-4s and Tn5B 1-4 cells in morphology and growth rate;although it also showed approximately the same responses to AcMNPV infection and production of occlusion bodies,there were higher levels of recombinant protein production in comparison to QB-Tn9-4s(parental cells)and High5 cells.

Production of immunogenic human papillomavirus-16 major capsid protein derived virus like particles.

Background & objective: Recombinant DNA technology allows expression of the human papillomavirus (HPV) major capsid protein (L1) in heterologous expression systems and the recombinant protein self assembles to virus-like particles (VLP). We took up this study to produce recombinant HPV-16 L1 in yeast, establish the process of recombinant L1 derived VLP preparation and develop an ELISA using VLP as the antigen for serological evaluation of anti HPV-16 L1 antibody status. Methods: Complete HPV-16 L1 was amplified from genomic DNA of an esophageal cancer biopsy, cloned and the protein was expressed in a galactose-inducible Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression system. Self assembled VLP was purified by a two-step density gradient centrifugation process and the VLP preparation used to test its suitability in developing an ELISA. Results: The recombinant protein was predominantly a ~55 KD species with distinct immunoreactivity and formed VLP as confirmed by electron microscopy. An ELISA using the VLP showed its efficacy in appropriate immunoreactivity to serum/plasma IgG. Interpretation & conclusions: Recombinant HPV-16 capsid protein derived VLP was produced and the VLP antigen based ELISA can be used to probe serological association of HPV with different clinical conditions. The VLP technology can be improved further and harnessed for future vaccine development efforts in the country.

Análise dos genes diferencialmente expressos durante a osteodiferenciação induzida por proteínas morfogenéticas de osso (BMP2 e BMP7) em células C2C12 e super-expressão de rhBMP2 e rhBMP7 em células de mamíferos / Analysis of differentially expressed genes during osteodifferentiation induced by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP2 e BMP7) of C2C12 cells and overexpression of rhBMP2 and rhBMP7 in mammalian cells

As BMPs (Bone Morphogenetic Proteins) são membros da superfamília de proteínas TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor β ), regulam o crescimento e diferenciação de vários tipos celulares em diversos tecidos, e algumas delas desempenham um papel crítico na diferenciação de células de origem mesenquimal em osteoblastos. Particularmente, rhBMP2 e rhBMP7, promovem osteoindução tanto /"in vitro/" como /"in vivo,/" sendo, ambas as proteínas utilizadas terapeuticamente em Ortopedia/Odontologia para reparo ósseo. A expressão diferencial de genes durante a osteodiferenciação de células C2C12 induzida por rhBMP2 e rhBMP7, foi analisada através de microarranjos de DNA, selecionando 31 genes, dos quais 24 foram validados por qPCR, 13 dos quais são relacionados à transcrição, quatro associados a algumas vias de sinalização celular e sete associados à matriz extracelular. Análise funcional destes genes permitirá conhecer, com maiores detalhes, os eventos moleculares que ocorrem durante a diferenciação osteoblástica de células C2C12 induzida por rhBMPs. Em paralelo, foi perseguida a super-expressão de rhBMP2 e rhBMP7 em células HEK293T, demonstrando-se a atividade de rhBMP7, induzindo osteodiferenciação /"in vitro/" e formação de osso /"in vivo/", demonstrando a viabilidade do objetivo de se produzir estas proteínas para futura aplicação como biofármacos no Brasil.

The BMPs (Bone Morphogenetic Proteins) are members of the TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor β) superfamily of proteins, regulate growth and differentiation of various cell types in various tissues, and some play a critical role in differentiation of mesenchymal cells into osteoblasts. Particularly, rhBMP2 and rhBMP7, promote osteoinduction /"in vitro/" and /"in vivo/" and both proteins are used therapeutically in Orthopedics and Dentistry. The differential expression of genes during osteodifferentiation induced by rhBMP2 and rhBMP7 in C2C12 cells was analyzed through DNA microarrays, allowing the selection of 31 genes, of which 24 were validated by qPCR, 13 of which are related to transcription, four associated with cell signaling pathways and seven are associated with the extracellular matrix. Subsequent functional analysis of these genes should reveal more details on the molecular events which take place during C2C12 cells osteoblastic differentiation induced by rhBMPs In paralel, rhBMPs 2 and 7 were overexpressed in HEK293T cells and BMP7 activity to induce osteodifferentiation /"in vitro/" and bone formation /"in vivo/" was demonstrated, reinforcing the viability of our objective to produce these proteins for future application as biopharmaceuticals in Brazil

Reconstruction of the heat-labile enterotoxin subunit B gene of Escherichia coli and its immune adjuvant activity on mucosa / 中国人兽共患病学报

To reconstruct the heat-labile enterotoxin subunit B (LTB) gene of Escherichia coil in order to increase the outputs of the prokaryotic expression on recombinant LTB (rLTB), and to determine its immune adjuvant activity on mucosa,the nucleotide sequence of the whole length of LTB gene was synthesized according to the preferred codons of E. coli, and the prokaryotic expression plasmid pET32a-rLTB and its expression system in E. coli BL21DE3 were reconstructed. The recombinant plasmid was extracted and the inserted sequence of rLTB gene was determined. Meanwhile, the expression quantity of the reconstructed rLTB was identified by SDS-PAGE and BioRad agarose image analyzing system, and compared with that of the un-reconstructed rLTB. The abilities of the reconstructed rLTB and the un-reconstructed rLTB to bind with bovine GM1 were determined by means of GM1-ELISA assay. By using the recombinant urease subunit B as antigen, the effects of the reconstructed and the un-reconstructed rLTB on the improvement of immune protection of BALB/c mice infected with Helicobacter pylori strain SS1 and the induction of S-IgAs in infected mice were assayed. The experimental results showed that the expression quantity of the reconstructed rLTB approached upto 35.4% of the total bacterial proteins after induction with 1 mmol/L IPTG for pET32a-rLTB-E. coliBL21DE3 and to be 12.6 times higher than that of the un-reconstructed rLTB (2.8 %). In addition, both the abilities of the recombinant reconstructed LTB and the un-reconstructed rLTB to bind with bovine GM1 could be demonstrated by GM1-ELISA. The immune protection rate of the recombinant urease subunit B in the infected mice was 66.7%; and it could reach up to 91.7% with a significantincrease of the specific S-IgA level, when it was immunized with the reconstructed or the un-reconstructed rLTB. It is concluded that the reconstructed LTB gene in the present study shows a remarkable increased outputs of expression of this gene with a strong immune adjuvant activity on mucosa.