Expression of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens, PsaA (pneumococcal surface antigen A) and PspA (pneumococcal surface protein A) by Lactobacillus casei.
A number of recent research works in lactic acid bacteria aim towards the design of new strains that could be used as live vectors for the delivery of antigens for oral vaccination, or other therapeutic molecules. In this work, an inducible expression system based on the Lactobacillus casei lactose operon promoter was used to express three important surface antigens of Streptococcus pneumoniae in this lactic acid bacterium: a virulence-related pneumococcal surface antigen (PsaA) and two variants of the virulence factor PspA (pneumococcal surface protein A). Expression of the three proteins was induced upon growth on lactose and strongly repressed by glucose. These proteins were produced intracellularly. Also, secretion to the growth medium was achieved by means of a fusion to the secreting and processing signals from the L. casei surface proteinase. Interestingly, while secreted PspA proteins were found in the culture supernatants, PsaA remained trapped in the cell wall. Expression of pneumococcal antigens in a food-grade organism opens an alternative for mucosal vaccination against this important pathogen.
Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, 05503-900, SP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Maria Leonor S
ML
Oliveira
Vicente
V
Monedero
Eliane N
EN
Miyaji
Luciana C C
LC
Leite
Paulo
P
Lee Ho
Gaspar
G
Pérez-Martínez
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; C085000:PsaA protein, Streptococcus; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C051592:pneumococcal surface protein A