title: Oral immunization of mice with transgenic tomato fruit expressing respiratory syncytial virus-F protein induces a systemic immune response.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important pathogens of infancy and early childhood. Here a fruit-based edible subunit vaccine against RSV was developed by expressing the RSV fusion (F) protein gene in transgenic tomato plants. The F-gene was expressed in ripening tomato fruit under the control of the fruit-specific E8 promoter. Oral immunization of mice with ripe transgenic tomato fruits led to the induction of both serum and mucosal RSV-F specific antibodies. The ratio of immunoglobulin subclasses produced in response to immunization suggested that a type 1 T-helper cell immune response was preferentially induced. Serum antibodies showed an increased titer when the immunized mice were exposed to inactivated RSV antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Krasnyanski
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Domier
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Korban
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Osadjan
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Buetow
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D007114:Immunization; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D022462:Vaccines, Edible / Q000276:immunology*; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; D022462:Vaccines, Edible; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014764:Viral Proteins