Rotavirus vp7 antigen produced by Lactococcus lactis induces neutralizing antibodies in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if live recombinant Lactococcus lactis strains expressing rotavirus VP7 antigen are immunogenic in mice.


RESULTS
Using the food-grade lactic acid bacterium L. lactis as a carrier, we expressed VP7, the major rotavirus outer shell protein and one of the main components of the infective particle, as a cytoplasmic, secreted or cell wall anchored forms. Our results showed that recombinant L. lactis strains secreting VP7 proved to be more immunogenic than strains containing the antigen in the cytoplasm or anchored to the cell wall.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first demonstration that recombinant L. lactis producing VP7 can induce the production of a neutralizing antibody response against rotavirus by the intragastric route.


CONCLUSIONS
Rotaviruses are the single most important aetiological agents of severe diarrhoea of infants and young children worldwide and have been estimated to be responsible for 650 000-800 000 deaths per year of children younger than 5 years old in development countries. Thus, the development of a safe and effective vaccine has been a global public health goal. Although two of five mice orally inoculated with L. lactis strains secreting VP7 elicited a specific-antibody response, these strains could be very useful to be used as a prototype to develop a new generation of protective rotavirus vaccines.
Perez
C A
CA
Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR) and Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha, Rosario, Argentina.
Eichwald
C
C
Burrone
O
O
Mendoza
D
D
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus; D014764:Viral Proteins