Expression of hemagglutinin protein from the avian influenza virus H5N1 in a baculovirus/insect cell system significantly enhanced by suspension culture.
BACKGROUND
Prevention of a possible avian influenza pandemic necessitates the development of rapid diagnostic tests and the eventual production of a vaccine.


RESULTS
For vaccine production, hemagglutinin (HA1) from avian influenza H5N1 was expressed from a recombinant baculovirus. Recombinant HA1 was expressed in monolayer or suspension culture insect cells by infection with the recombinant baculovirus. The yield of rHA1 from the suspension culture was 68 mg/l, compared to 6 mg/l from the monolayer culture. Immunization of guinea pigs with 50 microg of rHA1 yielded hemagglutinin inhibition and virus neutralization titers of 1:160 after two times vaccination with rHA1 protein.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, the production of rHA1 using an insect suspension cell system provides a promising basis for economical production of a H5 antigen.
Nwe
Nitar
N
Animal Health Biotechnology Group, Temasek Life Science Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Singapore. nitarnwe@yahoo.com
He
Qigai
Q
Damrongwatanapokin
Sudarat
S
Du
Qingyun
Q
Manopo
Ivanus
I
Limlamthong
Yukol
Y
Fenner
Beau James
BJ
Spencer
Lynn
L
Kwang
Jimmy
J
D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000166:cytology*
D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D011994:Recombinant Proteins