Higher expression level and lower toxicity of genetically spliced rotavirus NSP4 in comparison to the full-length protein in E. coli

ABSTRACT

Background: Rotavirus group A [RVA] is recognized as a major cause of severe gastroenteritis in children and new-born animals. Nonstructural protein 4 [NSP4] is responsible for the enterotoxic activity of these viruses in the villus epithelial cells. Amino acids 114-135 of NSP4 are known to form the diarrhea-inducing region of this viral enterotoxin. Therefore, developing an NSP4 lacking the enterotoxin domain could result in the introduction of a new subunit vaccine against rotaviruses in both humans and animals