Expression of an Escherichia coli antigenic fusion protein comprising the heat labile toxin B subunit and the heat stable toxin, and its assembly as a functional oligomer in transplastomic tobacco plants

Plant J. 2009 Jan;57(1):45-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03666.x. Epub 2008 Sep 30.

Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains are important pathogens in developing countries. Some vaccine formulations containing the heat labile toxin B subunit (LTB) have been used in clinical trials; however, the induction of neutralizing antibodies against the heat-stable toxin (ST), a poor immunogenic peptide, is necessary, as most ETEC strains can produce both toxins. In this study, a plant optimized synthetic gene encoding for the LTB-ST fusion protein has been introduced into plastids of tobacco leaf tissues, using biolistic microprojectile bombardment, in an effort to develop a single plant-based candidate vaccine against both toxins. Transplastomic tobacco plants carrying the LTB-ST transgene have been recovered. Transgene insertion into the plastid was confirmed by both PCR and Southern blot analysis. GM1-ELISA revealed that the LTB-ST fusion protein retained its oligomeric structure, and displayed antigenic determinants for both LTB and ST. Western blot analysis, using LTB antisera, confirmed the presence of a 17-KDa protein in transplastomic lines, with the correct antigenicity of the fusion protein. Expression levels of this fusion protein in different lines reached up to 2.3% total soluble protein. Oral immunization of mice with freeze-dried transplastomic tobacco leaves led to the induction of both serum and mucosal LTB-ST specific antibodies. Following cholera toxin challenge, a decrease of intestinal fluid accumulation was observed in mice immunized with LTB-ST-containing tobacco. These findings suggest that tobacco plants expressing LTB-ST could serve as a plant-based candidate vaccine model providing broad-spectrum protection against ETEC-induced diarrhoeal disease.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacterial Toxins / biosynthesis*
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Vaccines / biosynthesis
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Base Sequence
  • Cholera Toxin / immunology
  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Enterotoxins / biosynthesis*
  • Enterotoxins / genetics
  • Epitopes
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Genes, Synthetic
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nicotiana / genetics*
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Plastids / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Transformation, Genetic
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Enterotoxins
  • Epitopes
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • RNA, Plant
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • heat stable toxin (E coli)
  • Cholera Toxin
  • heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli