DIVA diagnostic of Aujeszky's disease using an insect-derived virus glycoprotein E

Commercial vaccines against Aujeszky's disease are mainly formulated using deleted versions of attenuated or inactivated Pseudorabies virus (PRV) particles lacking of the structural glycoprotein E (gE). Complementary diagnostic assays used to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVAs), are based on the detection of serum antibodies against gE. A recombinant version of the PRV gE protein was expressed in a baculovirus vector system in Trichoplusia ni insect larvae in order to obtain this diagnostic reagent for large scale diagnosis at reduced costs. A recombinant gE gene (gEr), lacking of signal peptide and transmembrane domains, was cloned into a modified baculovirus vector to allow glycosylation of the protein and its subsequent exportation to the extracellular space. Analysis by SDS-PAGE, Western-blotting and glycoprotein staining revealed that a glycosylated protein of the expected electrophoretic mobility was obtained in infected larvae. Time course experiments revealed that maximum expression levels were reached 72h post-infection using 10(4)pfu of the recombinant baculovirus (BACgEr) per inoculated larva. An indirect PRV gE-ELISA was developed using gEr as a coating antigen. A comparison between larvae-derived PRV gE-ELISA and two commercially available PRV diagnostic kits showed good correlation between assays and better sensitivity when testing certain sera pig samples using the gEr ELISA. More than 30,000 ELISA determinations could be performed from crude extracts obtained from a single larva infected with the recombinant baculovirus, indicating the feasibility of this strategy for inexpensive production of glycosylated antigens for PRV diagnosis.     

Over expression of anti-MUC1 single-domain antibody fragments in the yeast Pichia pastoris

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has become a highly popular expression host system for the recombinant production of a wide variety of proteins, such as antibody fragments. Camelids produce functional antibodies devoid of light chains and constant heavy-chain domain (CH1). The antigen binding fragments of such heavy chain antibodies are therefore comprised in one single domain, the so-called VH of the camelid heavy chain antibody (VHH). To test the feasibility of expressing VHHs in the yeast, which on account of their small size and antigen recognition properties would have a major impact on antibody engineering strategies, we constructed two VHH genes encoding the single-domain antibody fragments with specificity for a cancer associated mucin, MUC1. The recombinant strains of the yeast P. pastoris were developed which secrete single-domain antibody fragment to the culture supernatant as a biologically active protein. Supplementation of medium with sorbitol (in pre-induction phase) and casamino acid or EDTA (in induction phase) provided ideal condition of increasing the yield of VHH production compared to culture condition devoid of above recipe. The secreted protein was purified following a 80% ammonium sulfate precipitation step, followed by a affinity chromatography column. The specific activity in enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) of the purified yeast VHH was higher than that of a bacterial periplasmic counterpart. These results reaffirm that the yeast P. pastoris is a suitable host for high level and correctly folded production of VHH antibody fragments with potential in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This is the first report of expression of VHH in P. pastoris.     

Development of an indirect ELISA for serological detection of reticuloendotheliosis virus using the gp90 protein expressed in Pichia pastoris

The present study was undertaken to express the gp90 protein of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) in Pichia pastoris and evaluate its potential use as a diagnostic antigen in ELISA. The full-length gp90 gene of REV was cloned into pPIC9k vector and then integrated into the chromosome of P. pastoris for induced expression. SDS-PAGE and western blot assay demonstrated that gp90 protein was expressed and secreted into the culture medium at about 100mg/L of culture under optimized condition. An indirect ELISA was then established by using the recombinant gp90 protein as the coating antigen. The optimal concentration of coated antigen was 0.1 μg/well at a serum dilution of 1:200 and the optimal positive threshold value of the assay was 0.409. Cross-reactivity assay showed that this antigen was REV specific. The reproducibility experiment displayed good consistency. Furthermore, the gp90 protein based indirect ELISA showed good correlation rates of 96.3% and 97.5% with virus neutralization test and a commercially whole virus based indirect ELISA, respectively. This study demonstrates the efficacy of recombinant gp90 protein as an antigen in ELISA for seroepidemiological study of REV infection on a large scale.     

Characterization and diagnostic potential of hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid expressed in E. coli and P. pastoris.

The hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) was expressed in Escherichia coli and in Pichia pastoris. A hexahistidine tag was introduced at the C terminus of the E. coli expressed protein allowing its purification by Ni(2+)-chelate affinity chromatography. The P. pastoris expressed HBcAg was isolated following heat treatment. The two recombinant HBcAgs were purified further on a sucrose gradient. Mass spectrometry analysis suggested that HBcAg was N-acetylated only in P. pastoris and reaction with Ellman's reagent allowed the measurement respectively, of 0.37 and 0.23 mole of free sulfydryl groups per mole of HBcAg monomer expressed in E. coli or P. pastoris. Electron microscopy indicated that the E. coli and the P. pastoris proteins formed capsid-like particles with respectively, a diameter of 34 and 28-nm. Nucleic acid components were found entrapped in both particles but protected from enzymatic treatment only in the P. pastoris derived particles suggesting structural discrepancies between the two recombinant molecules. The high purity of these recombinant antigens allowed the development of a sandwich immunoassay to detect anti-HBc antibodies in human serum. The preliminary results indicate that the P. pastoris HBcAg produced intracellularly is more suitable than the renatured E. coli HBcAg for detection of anti-HBc in this diagnostic assay.     

Erratum to "characterization and diagnostic potential of hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid expressed in E. coli and P. pastoris"

The hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) was expressed in Escherichia coli and in Pichia pastoris. A hexa-histidine tag was introduced at the C terminus of the E. coli expressed protein allowing its purification by Ni2+-chelate affinity chromatography. The P. pastoris expressed HBcAg was isolated following heat treatment. The two recombinant HBcAgs were purified further on a sucrose gradient. Mass spectrometry analysis suggested that HBcAg was N-acetylated only in P. pastoris and reaction with Ellman's reagent allowed the measurement, respectively, of 0.37 and 0.23 mole of free sulfydryl groups per mole of HBcAg monomer expressed in E. coli or P. pastoris. Electron microscopy indicated that the E. coli and the P. pastoris proteins formed capsid-like particles with, respectively, a diameter of 34 and 28 nm. Nucleic acid components were found entrapped in both particles but protected from enzymatic treatment only in the P. pastoris derived particles suggesting structural discrepancies between the two recombinant molecules. The high purity of these recombinant antigens allowed the development of a sandwich immunoassay to detect antibodies to HBcAg (anti-HBc) in human serum. The preliminary results indicate that the P. pastoris HBcAg produced intracellularly is more suitable than the renatured E. coli HBcAg for detection of anti-HBc in this diagnostic assay.     

Construction and immune response characterization of a recombinant pseudorabies virus co-expressing capsid precursor protein (P1) and a multiepitope peptide of foot-and-mouth disease virus in swine

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is the most contagious and devastating disease of livestock. Our previous studies demonstrated that TK⁻/gG⁻/P1⁺, a recombinant expressing the FMDV capsid precursor protein (P1) based on attenuated pseudorabies virus (PRV) TK⁻/gG⁻, could be used as a recombinant vaccine to protect pigs against both pseudorabies and FMD. However, because the P1 expression cassette is inserted into the gG locus of the genome of PRV TK⁻/gG⁻, this bivalent vaccine cannot be used in conjunction with the PRV gE-ELISA, an extensively used discriminatory serological test in eradication programs for pseudorabies, which limits the clinical use of this bivalent vaccine. To circumvent this shortcoming, in this study, an expression cassette containing synthetic multiepitope gene “FHG” consisting of six potential B cell epitopes and two potential T cell epitopes of FMDV, under the control of CMV promoter, was further inserted into the gE/gI locus of genome of TK⁻/gG⁻/P1⁺, resulting in a new recombinant FHG/P1/PRV. The immunogenicity of FHG/P1/PRV was evaluated and compared with TK⁻/gG⁻/P1⁺ in piglets. Our results clearly showed that FHG/P1/PRV performed better than or comparable with TK^-/gG^-/P1⁺, as demonstrated by comparable PRV-specific neutralizing antibodies, enhanced FMDV-specific neutralizing antibodies, and cellular immune responses. More importantly, no gE- and gG-specific antibodies could be detected in pigs immunized with FHG/P1/PRV. These data indicate that FHG/P1/PRV is a promising bivalent vaccine candidate with more extensive potential application than TK⁻/gG⁻/P1⁺ against both pseudorabies and FMD.     

重组人角质细胞生长因子在毕赤酵母中的表达、纯化及活性测定

目的:利用巴斯德毕赤酵母(Pichiapastoris)重组表达人角质细胞生长因子(humankeratinocytegrowthfactor,hKGF),为实现规模化生产重组hKGF奠定基础。方法:根据已报道的hKGF成熟肽序列,人工合成由毕赤酵母偏好密码子组成的编码hKGF的DNA片段后连接到分泌型表达质粒pPICZαA中,获得重组表达质粒并转化毕赤酵母X-33中进行表达。优化发酵条件,并利用5L生物反应器进行中试发酵。发酵上清通过超滤及层析方法分离纯化重组蛋白,并利用MMT法检测其对恒河猴肺上皮细胞的促增殖活性。结果:在20℃,甲醇诱导60h后,获得分子量约为28kD的目的蛋白,表达量约占菌体上清总蛋白的14.1%。发酵液经肝素亲和层析和SephardexG-25分子筛分离获得纯度为95.0%以上的重组蛋白,得率为12mg/L。该重组hKGF具有糖基化修饰,能显著促进恒河猴肺上皮细胞增殖,其ED₅₀约为57μg/L。结论:利用毕赤酵母成功表达出糖基化修饰及具促恒河猴肺上皮细胞增殖活性的重组hKGF。     

A highly specific and sensitive sandwich blocking ELISA based on baculovirus expressed pseudorabies virus glycoprotein B

A direct sandwich blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BacgB ELISA) based on the reaction between a monoclonal antibody (MAb) and a recombinant glycoprotein B (gB) of pseudorabies virus (PRV) was developed. This protein was obtained in large quantities from insect cells infected with a PRV gB recombinant baculovirus. Expression of the gB was confirmed by immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) with gB specific MAbs. The specificity and sensitivity of the developed BacgB ELISA were evaluated and compared with two commercially available tests by using sets of sera of known PRV infection or vaccination history. For validation, 347 serum samples have been tested. The BacgB ELISA had a high sensitivity and specificity, which were comparable with those of the two commercial tests. In addition, the BacgB ELISA allows detecting anti-gB antibodies in pig serum as early as 7 days following infection. Also maternal antibodies in uninfected pig sera were detected. We conclude that the BacgB ELISA is a useful tool for the detection of as well vaccinated as infected pigs (including derivatives from gE negative vaccine strains), with the added advantage that it uses an antigen that can be produced safely and in large quantities.     

人源性抗HBsAg单链Fab基因在Pichia pastoris中的表达

目的：研究重组Fab的结构与亲和活性的关系：方法：通过重叠PCR，将人源性抗HBsAg Fab的H和L链基因融合构建单链Fab基因，并将其转入毕赤酵母表达载体pPICZαA中。以单链Fab基因表达载体通过氯化锂转化法转化毕赤酵母GS115。将获得的重组酵母在摇瓶中培养进行重组单链Fab的可溶性表达。表达上清经硫酸铵沉淀及亲和层析纯化后，用直接ELISA检测表达产物和纯化Fab的活性：结果：SDS—PAGE和Western blot分析显示，单链Fab在毕赤酵母中获得分泌型表达。薄层扫描显示，在摇瓶中培养毕赤酵母表达的单链Fab约为5～10mg／L。经亲和层析纯化获得纯度达97．8％的重组单链Fab。经直接ELISA测定的结果显示，重组单链Fab具有较好的结合HBsAg的活性。结论：通过重叠PCR构建的融合单链Fab基因，可成功地在毕赤酵母中获得分泌型表达，表达产物具有较好的结合HBsAg的活性。     

Use of recombinant gp43 isoforms expressed in Pichia pastoris for diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis

gp43 is the main diagnostic antigen for paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). In vitro, gp43 expression in supernatant fluids of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis cultures can be unstable, and its regulation is poorly understood. We have been able to express soluble recombinant gp43 (gp43r) isoforms as N-mannosylated proteins secreted in the supernatants of Pichia pastoris cultures induced with methanol. They were secreted as major components from day 2 of induction and could be purified with affinity columns containing anti-gp43 monoclonal antibodies. We have expressed P. brasiliensis GP43 (PbGP43) sequences from genotypes A, D, and E, and the correspondent gp43r isoforms (gp43r A, -B, and -C, respectively; 200 ng) were compared to native gp43 in immunodiffusion (ID) and dot blot assays. Among 90 PCM patient sera showing ID-positive reactions with purified native gp43, 100% were positive with gp43rD and gp43rE and 98% reacted with gp43rA. Of these sera, 78 were tested in dot blot assays at a 1:1,000 dilution, and 100% reacted with all recombinant isoforms. In ID assays, the specificity was 100%, since 40 sera from patients with related mycoses and 30 sera from healthy individuals did not react with any of the antigens. In dot blot assays, 100% specificity for PCM occurred when cross-reactive mannose epitopes were neutralized with 10 mM metaperiodate or eliminated through deglycosylation. However, a 1:1,000 serum dilution was already discriminatory for most sera. We suggest that P. pastoris recombinant gp43, especially isoforms D and E, may replace the native antigen in ID and dot blot assays for diagnosis and prognosis of PCM. Regulated expression of large amounts of antigen in nonpathogenic yeast would justify its preferred use.     

Secreted expression of dengue virus type 2 full-length envelope glycoprotein in Pichia pastoris

The full-length envelope glycoprotein gene of dengue virus type 2 was cloned using an RT-PCR method from the infected C6/36 cells and inserted into pPICZaB vector. The recombinant plasmid was integrated into Pichia pastoris by electroporation and the expressed product was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. High-level secreted expression was performed by determining the Mut(+) phenotype and screening multi-copy integrants in the recombinant yeast cells. A recombinant protein with a molecular size of approximately 69 kDa was secreted into the supernatant from the yeast cells when induced with methanol. The expressed supernatant was able to bind with mouse polyclonal antibody or E-specific monoclonal antibody of dengue-2 virus. Purified E-poly (His)-tagged fusion protein was obtained from the expressed product by passing through a metal-chelating affinity chromatographic (MCAC) column. The results of Western blotting and solid-phase ELISA using dengue virus antibodies indicated that the purified recombinant E glycoprotein retained its antigenicity. High-level production of the recombinant E protein up to 100 mg/l indicates that P. pastoris is an efficient expression system for dengue virus full-length envelope glycoprotein.     

De-glycosylation of Pichia pastoris-produced Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B eliminates non-specific reactivity with IgG in normal human serum

Production of diagnostic reagents in the yeast Pichia pastoris is particularly attractive since this organism is capable of expressing complex eukaryotic proteins in their correctly folded form and is amenable to large-scale fermentation at low cost. The potential of Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B as a diagnostic antigen for human schistosomiasis has been previously established using both native and E. coli-derived recombinant proteins. However, when produced in P. pastoris we found that recombinant wild-type cathepsin B was preferentially secreted as a heterogeneously glycosylated molecule that migrated at 39 kDa, 41 kDa and a smear of >50 kDa on SDS-PAGE, and was susceptible to treatment with Endo H and PGNase F. The addition of yeast sugars to the cathepsin B caused it to react with IgG in the serum of both normal (non-infected) and schistosome-infected humans in immunoblotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). To avoid this non-specific reactivity, a non-glycosylated mutant form of cathepsin B, engineered by disrupting its potential glycosylation site, was produced. The non-glycosylated recombinant cathepsin B migrated as a single band of 39 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Most importantly, the molecule was not reactive with IgG in normal sera and, hence, could be employed in immunoblots or ELISA to specifically detect antibodies in schistosome-infected patients. Addition of oligosaccharides by P. pastoris is a potential drawback that needs to be considered before using P. pastoris-produced proteins as diagnostic reagents.     

人血管内皮生长因子在毕赤酵母菌中的表达和鉴定

目的 研究人血管内皮生长因子（ｈＶＥＧＦ１６５）基因在Ｐｉｃｈｉａ．ｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ酵母中的表达,获得高效表达的具有生物学活性的重组ＶＥＧＦ１６５。方法 采用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）扩增ｈＶＥＧＦ１６５基因,经ＤＮＡ序列分析后,插入含ＡＯＸ１启动子和α分泌信号肽序列的Ｐｉｃｈｉａ．ｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ酵母载体中,构建重组表达质粒ｐＰＩＣ９Ｋ／ｈＶＥＧＦ１６５,转化酵母宿主菌ＫＭ７１,筛选多拷贝整合转化子,摇瓶培养,１％甲醇诱导表达。结果 ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分析显示,诱导４ｄ的培养上清中ｈＶＥＧＦ１６５表达量达上清总蛋白的３０％以上。ＥＬＩＳＡ及Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ实验表明,表达产物具有良好的抗原性和特异性。生物学活性检测证实其具有刺激ＨＵＶＥＣ增殖的功能。结论 在Ｐｉｃｈｉａ．ｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ表达系统中实现了ｈＶＥ     

An indirect double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using baculovirus-expressed antigen for the detection of antibodies to glycoprotein E of pseudorabies virus and comparison of the method with blocking ELISAs.

Antibodies in porcine sera against glycoprotein E (gE) of pseudorabies virus (PRV) are usually measured in blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with one or two murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against gE. Our aim was to develop a confirmation assay which is based on another principle and which is able to detect antibodies directed against most potential binding sites on gE with high specificity. Therefore, we developed an indirect double-antibody sandwich assay (IDAS) using recombinant gE expressed by baculovirus (BacgE960). A fragment of the gE gene consisting of nucleotide positions +60 to +1020 of gE, coding for the major antigenic sites of gE but not the transmembrane region, was cloned behind the signal sequence of PRV gG and the p10 promoter in a baculovirus vector. Immunoblot analysis showed that the expressed protein reacted with MAbs directed against five of the six antigenic sites on gE. Although the conformation of some antigenic sites, notably antigenic sites E and C, was not identical to their natural conformation, the expressed protein bound gE-specific antibodies in porcine sera in Western blots (immunoblots) and ELISAs. For the IDAS, a coating MAb directed against the nonimmunodominant antigenic site A on gE was chosen. A major obstacle in binding ELISAs, such as the IDAS, appeared to be the high nonspecific binding activity observed in porcine sera. As a result, sera could be tested only in relatively high dilutions in the BacgE960 IDAS, in contrast to the testing of sera in blocking ELISAs. The sensitivity and specificity of the newly developed BacgE960 IDAS were evaluated and compared with those of five commercially available blocking ELISAs by using several sets of sera of known PRV disease history. The BacgE960 IDAS assay had a high diagnostic specificity and a moderate sensitivity. The five blocking ELISAs differed remarkably in sensitivity and specificity, thereby illustrating the need for standardization and confirmation. We conclude that the BacgE960 IDAS is a useful and specific additional (confirmatory) test for the detection of antibodies to gE.     

口蹄疫病毒 VP1 蛋白在酵母中的表达及免疫原性分析

目的 :利用毕赤酵母表达系统表达牛O型口蹄疫外壳蛋白(FMDVVP1) ,并对表达的蛋白进行免疫原性鉴定。方法 :将FMDVvp1基因克隆到毕赤酵母Pichiapastoris分泌性表达载体pSuperY中 ,构建重组表达载体pSuperY/vp1,经测序证明vp1基因序列的正确性。将纯化的重组质粒经线性化酶切后 ,用电转化法将pSuperY/vp1导入毕赤酵母菌种SMD116 8H中。对表达产物用SDS PAGE和Westernblot进行分析 ,并用酵母表达的FMDVVP1蛋白免疫小鼠。结果 :以重组质粒pSuperY/vp1转化毕赤酵母菌后 ,能表达相对分子量 (Mr)为 6 6 0 0 0和4 30 0 0的FMDVVP1蛋白。动物免疫结果表明 ,FMDVVP1蛋白能诱导小鼠产生特异性的体液和细胞免疫应答。结论 :在毕赤酵母中成功地表达FMDVVP1蛋白 ,为研制新型FMDVVP1的基因工程疫苗奠定了基础     

Recombinant glycoprotein E produced in mammalian cells in large-scale as an antigen for varicella-zoster-virus serology

A recombinant glycoprotein E (gE) from varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was generated and produced in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, in the development of a specific antigen for analysis of IgG antibodies to VZV. Several stable gE-secreting clones were established and one clone was adapted to growth in serum-free suspension culture. When the cells were cultured in a perfusion bioreactor, gE was secreted into the medium, from where it could be easily purified. The recombinant gE was then evaluated as a serological antigen in ELISA. When compared to a conventional whole virus antigen, the VZV gE showed similar results in ELISA-based seroprevalence studies of 854 samples derived from blood donors, students, ischemic stroke patients and their controls, including samples with border-line results in previous analyses. Eight samples (0.9%) were discordant, all being IgG-negative by the VZV gE ELISA and positive by the whole virus ELISA. The sensitivity and specificity of the VZV gE ELISA were 99.9% and 100%, respectively, compared to 100% and 88.9% for the VZV whole virus ELISA. The elderly subjects showed similar reactivities to both antigens, while VZV gE gave lower signals in the younger cohorts, suggesting that antibodies to gE may increase with age. It was concluded that the recombinant VZV gE from CHO cells was suitable as a serological antigen for the detection of IgG antibodies specific for VZV.     

VEGF_(165)cDNA在酵母中的表达、纯化及其生物学活性研究

目的研究人 ＶＥＧＦ１６５基因在 Ｐｉｃｈｉａ ｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ酵母中的表达,获得高效表达、具有生物学活性的重组ｈＶＥＧＦ１６５。方法采用ＰＣＲ扩增ｈＶＥＧＦ１６５基因,经ＤＮＡ序列分析后,插入含ＡＯＸ１启动子和α分泌信号肽序列的Ｐｉｃｈｉａ ｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ酵母表达载体中,构建重组质粒ｐＰＩＣ９Ｋ／ｈＶＥＧＦ１６５。经转化酵母宿主菌ＫＭ７１,筛选多拷贝整合转化子,摇瓶培养,用 １０ ｍＬ／Ｌ甲醇诱导表达。表达产物经Ｈｅｐａｒｉｎ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ＣＬ６Ｂ亲和层析纯化后,以人脐静脉内皮细胞（ＨＵＶＥＣ）测定其生物学活性。结果ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分析显示,表达产物以可溶性分子的形式存在于上清中,诱导４ｄ的表达量达上清中总蛋白的６０％以上。 Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ表明,表达产物具有良好的抗原性和特异性。经Ｈｅｐ－ａｒｉｎ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ＣＬ６Ｂ亲和层析纯化, ｒｈＶＥＧＦ１６５的纯度可达到９０％以上。生物学活性检测证实,其具有刺激脐静脉内皮细胞（ＨＵＶＥＣ）增殖的活性。结论在 Ｐｉｃｈｉａ ｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ表达系统中,实现了ｈＶＥＧＦ１６５的高效分泌性表达。     

Purification, characterization and immunogenicity of recombinant varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein gE secreted by Chinese hamster ovary cells

The gene of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein gE, engineered to code for a truncated molecule lacking the anchor and carboxy-terminal tail domains, was transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells via the pEE14 mammalian expression vector. One recombinant cell line, CHO-gE-2–9, secreted high levels of truncated gE into the culture medium. The product was purified to near homogeneity by a combination of anion exchange, hydrophobic and metal-chelate chromatographies. Purified recombinant gE showed the expected amino-terminal sequence and its glycosylation pattern proved similar to that of the natural product. When injected into mice, using either Freund's or alum as adjuvant, the native truncated gE induced complement-dependent neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, when the molecule was first denatured, it lost immunogenicity with alum. These data show that the recombinant gE, although truncated, could potentially be included in a subunit vaccine against VZV infection.     

复合干扰素在毕赤酵母中的分泌表达、纯化及活性分析

目的 在毕赤酵母中高效分泌表达复合干扰素。方法 根据毕赤酵母密码子偏性合成了复合干扰素基因，克隆至分泌型酵母表达载体pMKX9K，线性化后转化毕赤酵母GS115，筛选高表达菌株。诱导后的培养上清经过离子交换，疏水层析，凝胶过滤三步层析纯化，用细胞病变抑制法测定其活性，并结合Iowry法蛋白定量计算其比活性。结果 SDS-PAGE分析显示，重组蛋白以可溶性分子的形式存在于上清液中，经纯化后纯度达到96％，其N端氨基酸序列与理论值一致，比活与干复津相当。结论 复合干扰素在毕赤酵母中获得高效分泌表达，为获得大量基因工程产品奠定了基础。     

Purification of recombinant HBc antigen expressed in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris: comparison of size-exclusion chromatography and ultracentrifugation

Hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) is an important serology marker of hepatitis B infection and patient follow-up. It is an M, 21,000 protein, which has the intrinsic capacity to self-assemble as a capsid-like particle. The hepatitis B core protein has been expressed in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris (three different constructions) in order to select a HBc recombinant antigen suitable for serodiagnosis requirements with a cost effective downstream strategy. The expression and purification of the different forms of recombinant HBc have been described. For the last step, ultracentrifugation and size-exclusion chromatography were compared. The morphology of these capsids was observed using an electron microscope. Our data shows that HBc antigen is produced in large quantities in E. coli but some contaminants remained which were associated with the E. coli HBc protein after ultracentrifugation or size-exclusion chromatography. The ultracentrifugation enables a higher purity of HBc antigen to be obtained than size-exclusion chromatography but the latter enables a higher recovery rate. P. pastoris enables the expression and extraction of a highly purified HBc antigen suitable for diagnostic purposes.