Gene cloning, protein expression and examination of biological activity of chicken CD40L / 生物工程学报

To obtain chicken CD40L protein, the cDNA was prepared from chicken splenic cells and used as a template to clone and amplify CD40L by PCR. The target gene was cloned into pFastBac vector to construct a pFastBac-chCD40L donor plasmid. Recombinant plasmid was transformed into DH10Bac and recombinant Bacmid-chCD40L was obtained. The Bacmid-chCD40L plasmid was transfected into sf9 insect cells to obtain His-chCD40L protein. In addition, the target gene was cloned into pQM01 vector to construct a pQM01-chCD40L plasmid, recombinant plasmid was transfected into HEK 293T cells to obtain Strep-chCD40L protein. The chCD40L protein was purified by affinity chromatography, and the concentration of purified chCD40L protein was determined to be 0.01 mg/mL. Primary cells were isolated from the bursal tissue of 3-week old SPF chickens, and the chCD40L protein was added to the culture medium to stimulate cells. The chCD40L could bind to CD40 on B cells as examined by Western blotting, indirect immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometry, suggesting that chCD40L protein is biologically active. We successfully obtained chicken CD40L protein of biological activity, which laid the foundation in the in vitro culture of primary B lymphocytes for the isolation and diagnosis of virulent IBDV.

Solubility as a limiting factor for expression of hepatitis A virus proteins in insect cell-baculovirus system

The use of recombinant proteins may represent an alternative model to inactivated vaccines against hepatitis A virus (HAV). The present study aimed to express the VP1 protein of HAV in baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). The VP1 was expressed intracellularly with molecular mass of 35 kDa. The VP1 was detected both in the soluble fraction and in the insoluble fraction of the lysate. The extracellular expression of VP1 was also attempted, but the protein remained inside the cell. To verify if hydrophobic characteristics would also be present in the HAV structural polyprotein, the expression of P1-2A protein was evaluated. The P1-2A polyprotein remained insoluble in the cellular extract, even in the early infection stages. These results suggest that HAV structural proteins are prone to form insoluble aggregates. The low solubility represents a drawback for production of large amounts of HAV proteins in BEVS.

Preparation and diagnostic utility of a hemagglutination inhibition test antigen derived from the baculovirus-expressed hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein gene of Newcastle disease virus

A recombinant hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (rHN) protein from Newcastle disease virus (NDV) with hemagglutination (HA) activity was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda cells using a baculovirus expression system. The rHN protein extracted from infected cells was used as an antigen in a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for the detection and titration of NDV-specific antibodies present in chicken sera. The rHN antigen produced high HA titers of 2(13) per 25 microL, which were similar to those of the NDV antigen produced using chicken eggs, and it remained stable without significant loss of the HA activity for at least 12 weeks at 4degrees C. The rHN-based HI assay specifically detected NDV antibodies, but not the sera of other avian pathogens, with a specificity and sensitivity of 100% and 98.0%, respectively, in known positive and negative chicken sera (n = 430). Compared with an NDV-based HI assay, the rHN-based HI assay had a relative sensitivity and specificity of 96.1% and 95.5%, respectively, when applied to field chicken sera. The HI titers of the rHN-based HI assay were highly correlated with those in an NDV-based HI assay (r = 0.927). Overall, these results indicate that rHN protein provides a useful alternative to NDV antigen in HI assays.

Protection of chickens from Newcastle disease with a recombinant baculovirus subunit vaccine expressing the fusion and hemagglutininneuraminidase proteins

Recombinant baculoviruses containing the fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein gene of the viscerotropic velogenic (vv) Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolate, Kr-005/00, and a lentogenic La Sota strain of the NDV were constructed in an attempt to develop an effective subunit vaccine to the recent epizootic vvNDV. The level of protection was determined by evaluating the clinical signs, mortality, and virus shedding from the oropharynx and cloaca of chickens after a challenge with vvNDV Kr-005/00. The recombinant ND F (rND F) and recombinant HN (rND HN) glycoproteins derived from the velogenic strain provided good protection against the clinical signs and mortality, showing a 0.00 PI value and 100% protection after a booster immunization. On the other hand, the combined rND F + HN glycoprotein derived from the velogenic strain induced complete protection (0.00 PI value and 100% protection) and significantly reduced the amount of virus shedding even after a single immunization. The rND F and rND HN glycoproteins derived from the velogenic strain had a slightly, but not significantly, greater protective effect than the lentogenic strain. These results suggest that the combined rND F + HN glycoprotein derived from vvNDV can be an ideal subunit marker vaccine candidate in chickens in a future ND eradication program.

Expression and Evaluation of Chikungunya Virus E1 and E2 Envelope Proteins for Serodiagnosis of Chikungunya Virus Infection

PURPOSE: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes endemic or epidemic outbreaks of CHIKV fever, which is a mosquitoe-transmitted viral disease in Africa, India, South-East Asia, and recently Southern Europe. Currently, serological diagnostic tests such as hemagglutination inhibition test (HI test), in-house IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and indirect immunofluorescence test were used for diagnosis of chikungunya fever, which are based on whole virus antigens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CHIKV E1, and E2 envelope proteins for the CHIKV-specific serodiagnostic reagents for chikungunya fever were expressed in baculovirus expression system. The seroreactivity of recombinant CHIKV E1 and E2 envelope proteins were evaluated using sera panels of patients from Laboratoire Marcel Merieux by indirect IgM capture ELISA. RESULTS: The recombinant CHIKV E1 and E2 envelope protein showed sensitivity of 77.5% and 90%, respectively. The specificities of both CHIKV E1 and E2 envelope proteins were 100%. CONCLUSION: The recombinant CHIKV E1 and E2 envelope proteins could be a useful diagnostic reagent for CHIKV infection.

Molecular cloning and expression of the C-terminus of spider flagelliform silk protein from Araneus ventricosus.

A cDNA coding for the C-terminus of spider flagelliform silk protein (AvFlag) was cloned from Araneus ventricosus. Analysis of the cDNA sequence shows that the C-terminus of AvFlag consists of 167 amino acids of a repetitive region and 87 amino acids of a C-terminal non-repetitive region. The peptide motifs found in spider flagelliform silk proteins, GPGGX and GGX,were conserved in the repetitive region of AvFlag. Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed that AvFlag belongs to the spider flagelliform silk proteins. The AvFlag cDNA was expressed as a 28 kDa polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect cells. As a new expression approach for spider silk protein,the combination of polyhedrin and AvFlag creates a polyhedrin AvFlag fusion protein (61 kDa) that is produced as recombinant polyhedra; this provides a basis for the source of spider silk proteins for various applications.

Mechanism of the immunomodulatory activity of glycodelin.

Glycodelin, a progesterone regulated protein synthesized by the endometrium (GdA) has been well documented to inhibit the proliferation of activated T-cells and is an indispensable molecule in the maternal system for the establishment, maintenance and progression of pregnancy. Data from our laboratory have unequivocally shown that the immunosuppression by GdA is via induction of apoptosis in activated T cells. Another isoform of glycodein, GdS, from the male reproductive system, in spite of sharing an identical amino acid sequence as that of GdA has been shown not to harbour the immunosuppressive activity of GdA. As the only difference between the two proteins is glycosylation, we proposed to study the role of the sugars in imparting apoptotic activity to Gd. Using the recombinant baculovirus system, Gd lacking glycosylation was expressed and from the experimental observations we could conclude that the activity of Gd lies in the protein backbone. Recombinant Gd expressed in P. pastoris, and Chinese hamster ovary cells, like the GdS did not exhibit apoptotic activity. A close analyses of the glycans associated with the Gd molecules from various sources suggested that though the apoptogenic activity of Gd lies in the protein backbone, the glycans modulate the activity by masking (as in case of GdS and most recombinant Gd expressed in our laboratory) or unmasking (as in case of GdA and baculovirus expressed Gd), the functional region of the molecule.

Expression of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein in Hepatocytes Does Not Modulate Proliferation or Apoptosis of CD8+ T Cells

Hepatocytes are the primary targets of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). While immunosuppressive roles of HCV core protein have been found in several studies, it remains uncertain whether core protein expressed in hepatocytes rather than in immune cells affects the CD8+ T cell response. In order to transduce genes selectively into hepatocytes, we developed a baculoviral vector system that enabled primary hepatocytes to express a target epitope for CD8+ T cells, derived from ovalbumin (OVA), with or without HCV core protein. Culture of OVA-specific CD8+ T cells with hepatocytes infected with these baculoviral vectors revealed that core protein has no effect on proliferation or apoptosis of CD8+ T cells. Our results suggest that HCV core protein does not exert its suppressive role on the CD8+ T cell immune response through expression in hepatocytes.

Immunogenicity of baculovirus expressed recombinant proteins of Japanese encephalitis virus in mice

Genes encoding for the premembrane and envelope (prME), envelope (E) and nonstructural protein (NS1) of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) were cloned. Each protein was expressed in baculovirus expression system. Of the three proteins expressed in baculovirus system, only prME had hemagglutination activity. The prME (72 and 54 kDa), E (54 kDa) and NS1 (46 kDa) proteins could be detected by Western blotting in the recombinant virus infected cells. Immunogenicity of the recombinant proteins obtained from infected Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) cells was examined in mice. The 3 week-old ICR mice immunized intraperitoneally with three recombinant proteins three times were challenged with a lethal JEV. A survival rate was increased from about 7.7% in unimmunized mice to 92.3% in E + prME and only E groups. The complete protection was shown in prME and live vaccine inoculated groups, respectively. We also measured neutralizing antibody and three immunoglobulin subtypes of IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b in the sera of mice before and after challenge. Titers of IgG1 antibodies were approximately two to three times higher than that of IgG2b antibodies in all the immunized groups as compared to the control group. However, IgG2a antibody level somewhat increased after challenge, indicating T-helper type 1 (Th1) cell response. The results of this study can provide useful information for developing efficacious subunit vaccine against JEV.

Biochemical characterizations reveal different properties between CDK4/cyclin D1 and CDK2/cyclin A

CDK2 and CDK4 known promoter of cell cycling catalyze phosphorylation of RB protein. Enzyme specificity between two CDKs that work at a different cell cycle phase is not clearly understood. In order to define kinase properties of CDK2 and CDK4 in complex with cycline A or cycline D1 in relation to their respective role in cell cycling regulation, we examined enzymatic properties of both CDK4/cycline D1 and CDK2/cycline A in vitro. Association constant, Km for ATP in CDK4/cyclin D1 was found as 418 micrometer, a value unusually high whereas CDK2/cyclin A was 23 micrometer, a value close to most of other regulatory protein kinases. Turnover value for both CDK4/cyclin D1 and CDK2/cyclin A were estimated as 3.4 and 3.9 min(-1)respectively. Kinetic efficiency estimation indicates far over one order magnitude less efficiency for CDK4/cyclin D1 than the value of CDK2/cycline A (9.3 pM(-1)min(-1)and 170 pM(-1)min(-1)respectively). In addition, inhibition of cellular CDK4 caused increase of cellular levels of ATP, even though inhibition of CDK2 did not change it noticeably. These data suggest cellular CDK4/cyclin D1 activity is tightly associated with cellular ATP concentration. Also, analysis of phosphorylated serine/threonine sites on RB catalyzed by CDK4/cyclin D1 and CDK2/cyclin A showed significant differences in their preference of phosphorylation sites in RB C-terminal domain. Since RB is known to regulate various cellular proteins by binding and this binding is controlled by its phosphorylation, these data shown here clearly indicate significant difference in their biochemical properties between CDK4/cyclin D1 and CDK2/cyclin A affecting regulation of cellular RB function.

Characterization of the Recombinant Proteins of Porcine Circovirus Type2 Field Isolate Expressed in the Baculovirus System

Porcine circovirus (PCV) type2 was isolated using primary porcine kidney cells from lymph node of piglets with typical PMWS. The presence of the virus was identified by PCR using primers specific to PCV type2. The ORFs 1 and 2 were amplified by PCR using primers corresponding to the target genes of the PCV type 2. Cloned genes were inserted into the baculovirus expression vector and PCV recombinant proteins were expressed using baculovirus expression system. Recombinant protein expression was determined by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and immunoblotting using polyclonal antiserum to PCV. ORF1 gene expressed two proteins with approximately 17 kDa and 31 kDa proteins in the baculovirus system. Recombinant protein of the ORF2 was similar to that of the native virus except minor bands with different molecular weight were detected. Recombinant protein expressed in the baculovirus system showed at least two glycosylation sites based on the tunicamycin treatment. Recombinant protein of the ORF2 assembled virus-like particle in recombinant virus infected insect cells.

Expression and characterization of a mutant recombinant blood coagulation factor VIII (rFVIII (m))

In an earlier study, a site directed mutant rFVIII (rFVIII(m), Arg(336) -> Gln(336)) expressed in baculovirus-insect cell (Sf9) system was found to sustain high level activity during incubation at 37 for 24 h while the cofactor activity of normal plasma was declined steadily. In this study, a mutant B-domain deleted rFVIII(m), Arg(336) -> Gln(336) expressed in baculovirus-insect cell (Sf9) system was characterized for its enzymatic and chemical properties. The expressed rFVIII(m) and plasma FVIII (pFVIII) were purified by immunoaffinity column chromatography and identified by Western blot analysis. The partially purified rFVIII(m) exhibited cofactor specific activity of 2.01 X 10(3)units/mg protein. The molecular weight of rFVIII(m) ranged between 40 to 150 kDa with a major band at 150 kDa. Treatment of both rFVIII(m) and pFVIII with thrombin increased their cofactor activity in a similar pattern. Treatment of both the activated rFVIII(m) and native FVIII with APC decreased their cofactor activities, however, the former exhibited a slower decrease than the latter, although no significant difference was present. rFVIII(m) formed a complex with vWF, resulting in a stabilized form, and the lag period of thrombin-mediated activating was extended by vWF association. These results implicated that rFVIII(m) expressed in baculovirus-insect cell system had a comparable capacity as FVIII cofactor activity and might be a good candidate for the FVIII replacement therapy for hemophilia A patients.

Combination treatment for osteosarcoma with baculoviral vector mediated gene therapy (p53) and chemotherapy (adriamycin)

The insect baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) has been evaluated as a vector for gene delivery to human tumor cells. A human osteogenic sarcoma cell line, Saos-2, was found to be highly susceptible to infection with a baculoviral vector, with nearly 100% of Saos-2 cells being able to express a lacZ reporter gene after a brief exposure to the virus at a m.o.i. of 30 pfu/cell. The production of beta-galactosidase protein was 18-times greater than that in HepG2 cells which were previously thought to be the mammalian cells most susceptible to the baculovirus. The possibility of developing a baculovirus as a cytotoxic vector for p53-defective cancer was tested by destruction of Saos-2 cells (p53-/-) with a recombinant baculovirus containing the wild type p53 gene (BV-p53) in vitro. The p53 baculovirus induced apoptotic cell death in tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner with approximately 60% killing at an m.o.i. of 160 pfu/cell. Combined treatments of gene therapy (p53) and chemotherapy (adriamycin) resulted in synergistic and potent killing of the osteogenic sarcoma cells. For example, greater than 95% of Saos-2 cells were killed by the combination of BV-p53 (m.o.i. of 100) and adriamycin (35 ng/ml), whereas approximately 50% and approximately 55% cells were killed by BV-p53 and adriamycin alone, respectively. These results indicate that a baculoviral gene delivery vector can be used to efficiently target certain types of mammalian cells and the combination treatment of gene-therapy mediated by a baculovirus and chemotherapy may enhance induction of apoptosis in cancer cells.

Baculovirus expression of the major surface antigen of Toxoplasma gondii and the immune response of mice injected with the recombinant P30.

The major surface antigen (P30) of the Toxoplasma gondii was expressed by an insect cell culture system infected with recombinant baculovirus. About 750 microg of purified (95% purity) P30 was obtained from a culture of 10(8) insect Sf21 cells. The recombinant P30 was used to immunize mice to induce immune response. Mice injected with the recombinant protein produced specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Immunization with P30 also prolonged the period of survival of mice infected by Toxoplasma. The average survival time of control group is 13.25+/-1.16 days, but are 16.13+/-2.1 days, 19.50+/-3.21 days, 20.38+/-3.38 days in different immunized groups, respectively.

Expression of the Mycobacterium bovis P36 gene in Mycobacterium smegmatis and the baculovirus/insect cell system

In the present study we evaluated different systems for the expression of mycobacterial antigen P36 secreted by Mycobacterium bovis. P36 was detected by Western blot using a specific antiserum. The P36 gene was initially expressed in E. coli, under the control of the T7 promoter, but severe proteolysis prevented its purification. We then tried to express P36 in M. smegmatis and insect cells. For M. smegmatis, we used three different plasmid vectors differing in copy number and in the presence of a promoter for expression of heterologous proteins. P36 was detected in the cell extract and culture supernatant in both expression systems and was recognized by sera from M. bovis-infected cattle. To compare the expression level and compartmentalization, the MPB70 antigen was also expressed. The highest production was reached in insect cell supernatants. In conclusion, M. smegmatis and especially the baculovirus expression system are good choices for the production of proteins from pathogenic mycobacteria for the development of mycobacterial vaccines and diagnostic reagents

Synthesis of recombinant blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) heavy and light chains and reconstitution of active form of FVIII

FVIII is synthesized as a single chain precursor of approximately 280 kD with the domain structure of A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2 and it circulates as a series of metal ion-linked heterodimers that result from cleavages at B-A3 junction as well as additional cleavages within B domain. Factor VIII is converted to its active form, factor VIIIa, upon proteolytic cleavages by thrombin and is a heterotrimer composed of the A1, A2, and A3-C1-C2 subunits. A1 subunits of factor VIIIa terminates with 36 residue segment (Met337-Arg372) rich in acidic residues. This segment is removed after cleavages at Arg336 by activated protein C, which results in inactivation of the cofactor. In the present study, site-directed mutagenesis of FVIII at Arg336 to Gln336 was performed in order to produce an inactivation resistant mutant rFVIII (rFVIIIm) with an extended physiological stability. A recombinant mutant heavy chain of FVIII (rFVIII-Hm; Arg336 to Gln336) and wild-type light chain of FVIII (rFVIII-L) were expressed in Baculovirus-insect cell (Sf9) system, and a biologically active recombinant mutant FVIII (rFVIIIm) was reconstituted from rFVIII-Hm and rFVIII-L in the FVIII-depleted human plasma containing 40 mM CaCl2. The rFVIIIm exhibited cofactor activity of FVIIIa (2.85 x 10(-2) units/mg protein) that sustained the high level activity during in vitro incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 h, while the cofactor activity of normal plasma was declined steadily for the period. These results indicate that rFVIIIm (Arg336 to Gln336) expressed in Baculovirus-insect cell system is inactivation resistant in the plasma coagulation milieu and may be useful for the treatment of hemophilia A.

Construction of occluded recombinant baculoviruses containing the full-length cry1Ab and cry1Ac genes from Bacillus thuringiensis

The administration of baculoviruses to insects for bioassay purposes is carried out, in most cases, by contamination of food surfaces with a known amount of occlusion bodies (OBs). Since per os infection is the natural route of infection, occluded recombinant viruses containing crystal protein genes ( cry1Ab and cry1Ac ) from Bacillus thuringiensis were constructed for comparison with the baculovirus prototype Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcNPV). The transfer vector pAcUW2B was used for construction of occluded recombinant viruses. The transfer vector containing the crystal protein genes was cotransfected with linearized DNA from a non-occluded recombinant virus. The isolation of recombinant viruses was greatly facilitated by the reduction of background "wild type" virus and the increased proportion of recombinant viruses. Since the recombinant viruses containing full-length and truncated forms of the crystal protein genes did not seem to improve the pathogenicity of the recombinant viruses when compared with the wild type AcNPV, and in order to compare expression levels of the full-length crystal proteins produced by non-occluded and occluded recombinant viruses the full-length cry1Ab and cry1Ac genes were chosen for construction of occluded recombinant viruses. The recombinant viruses containing full-length and truncated forms of the crystal protein genes did not seem to improve its pathogenicity but the size of the larvae infected with the recombinant viruses was significantly smaller than that of larvae infected with the wild type virus

Expression of a recombinant branched chain alpha-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex E2 (BCOADC-E2) in insect cells and its immunoreactivity to autoimmune sera

Preparation of a pure autoantigen by way of recombinant DNA technology has an important value in an accurate diagnosis or prognosis of an autoimmune disease. BCOADC-E2 subunit, a mitochondrial protein, has been known to be the autoantigen of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a chronic autoimmune liver disease, as well as idiopathic dilated cardiomypathy (IDCM), a chronic autoimmune heart disease. Recombinant form of this molecule had been expressed in E. coli but with low yield and severe degradation. Furthermore, sera from IDCM patients failed to recognized BCOADC-E2 molecule produced in prokaryotic expression system. In this study, a recombinant bovine BCOADC-E2 fusion protein has been expressed in insect cells using baculovirus expression system and analyzed anti-BCOADC-E2 reactivity in sera from patients with PBC or with IDCM. Optimal production of the recombinant fusion protein has been achieved at 20 multiplicity of infection (MOI), and the protein was affinity-purified using metal-binding resins. The affinity-purified BCOADC-E2 protein was successfully recognized by sera from PBC patients, but not by sera from IDCM patients suggesting that the different auto-immune response against BCOADC-E2 is needed to be elucidated in terms of epitope recognition.

Analise da expressao dos proto-oncogenes fos e jun: formacao de complexo AP-1 e implicacoes biologicas / Analysis of expression of the proto-oncogene fos and jun: formation of complex AP-1 e biological implications

Para investigar o papel biologico dos proto-oncogenes fos (c-fos,fosB, fra-1 e fra-2) e jun (c-jun, junB e junD), nos propusemos a analisar a expressao dos membros destas duas familias genicas durante a organogenese de camundongos e promover a expressao heterologa de cFos e cJun utilizando o sistema de baculovirus em celulas Sf9 de inseto. A analise da expressao tecido-especifica dos genes fos e jun, por hibridizacao in situ, mostrou um padrao diferencial de expressao destes genes e embrioes de camundongos. A localizacao, ao nivel celular, dos transcritos correspondentes indica que diferentes complexos AP-1 podem desempenhar um papel especifico na organogenese. As proteinas cFos e cJun recombinantes produzidas em sistema de baculovirus apresentaram varias das caracteristicas das proteinas nativas como peso molecular esperado, fosfolrilacao, localizacao nuclear e capacidade de complexos AP-1 biologicamente ativos

Over-expression and characterization of recombinant beta subunit of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone synthesized in insect cells infected with a genetically engineered baculovirus.

A recombinant baculovirus, vAc beta hCG, having a replacement of the viral polyhedrin gene with the cDNA encoding the beta subunit of hCG was used to express beta hCG, an extensively glycosylated hormone, in insect cells. Virus-infected cells, 72 hr pi, secreted approximately 8.02 micrograms beta hCG/2 x 10(6) cells/ml. The recombinant beta hCG purified from insect cells exhibited increased mobility on SDS-PAGE as compared to authentic urinary beta hCG, a reflection on differences in glycosylation between insect and mammalian systems. The insect derived beta hCG, however, was identical to the native hormonal peptide in terms of immunoreactivity and bioactivity on association with alpha-subunit, as evident by its binding to rat testicular receptors and induction of steroidogenesis in a mouse Leydig cell bioassay system. The implications of using the baculovirus system to study the importance of carbohydrates for biological activity are also discussed.