Oral immunization with pBsVP6-transgenic alfalfa protects mice against rotavirus infection.
A critical factor in edible plant-derived vaccine development is adequate expression of the exogenous antigens in transgenic plants. We synthesized a codon-optimized gene (sVP6) encoding the VP6 protein of human group A rotavirus and inserted it into the alfalfa genome using agrobacterium-mediated transformation. As much as 0.28% of the total soluble protein of the pBsVP6-transgenic alfalfa was sVP6. Female BALB/c mice were gavaged weekly with 10 mg of transgenic alfalfa extract containing 24 microg of sVP6 protein and 10 microg of CpG-rich oligodeoxynucleotides as mucosal adjuvant. Immunized mice developed high titers of anti-VP6 serum IgG and mucosal IgA. Offspring of immunized dams developed less severe diarrhea after challenge with simian rotavirus SA-11, indicating that antibodies generated in the dams provided passive heterotypic protection to the pups. These results suggest that oral immunization with pBsVP6-transgenic alfalfa provides a potential means of protecting children and young animals from severe acute rotavirus-induced diarrhea.
State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100094, China. dongjiangli@126.com
Jiang-Li
JL
Dong
Ben-Guo
BG
Liang
Yong-Sheng
YS
Jin
Wan-Jun
WJ
Zhang
Tao
T
Wang
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C061332:VP6 protein, Rotavirus; D014765:Viral Vaccines