title: A recombinant capsid protein from Dengue-2 induces protection in mice against homologous virus.
abstract: In the present work, we study the immunogenicity and protective capacity of a recombinant capsid protein from Dengue-2 virus. The capsid gene was cloned under the T5 phage promoter and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was obtained mainly associated to the soluble fraction upon cellular disruption and exhibited a pattern of high aggregation, determined by gel filtration chromatography. The semipurified preparation was inoculated in mice and after three doses, no antiviral antibodies were induced. On the other hand, mice intracranially challenged with homologous lethal virus, exhibited statistically significant protection with respect to the control group. These results describe, for the first time, the protective capacity of the capsid protein of Dengue virus indicating the existence of a protector mechanism, which is totally independent of the antibodies. This lack of induction of antiviral antibodies makes the capsid protein an attractive vaccine candidate against dengue since eliminates the potential risk of the induction of antibody dependent enhancement associated to the current vaccines under study.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, Apdo 6162, Habana 10600, Cuba. laura.lazo@cigb.edu.cu
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazo
authors.forename: Lisset
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hermida
authors.forename: Aída
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zulueta
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guillén
authors.forename: María G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Guzmán
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002850:Chromatography, Gel / Q000379:methods; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003715:Dengue / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D053059:Dengue Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D053059:Dengue Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA