A recombinant metalloprotease antigen of Vibrio vulnificus elicits protective antibodies in a murine model.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether Vibrio vulnificus metalloprotease (VvpE) can induce the production of specific anti-VvpE antibody to confer effective protection against Vibrio vulnificus infection and to evaluate the possibility of VvpE as a potential vaccine candidate against disease caused by V. vulnificus.


RESULTS
The gene encoding the 65-kDa VvpE of V. vulnificus was amplified by PCR and cloned into the expression vector pET21(b). The recombinant VvpE of V. vulnificus was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). This His(6)-tagged VvpE was purified and injected intramuscularly into mice to evaluate its ability to stimulate immune response. Specific antibody levels were measured by ELISA. The 75% protective efficacy of recombinant VvpE was evaluated by active immunization and intraperitoneal challenge with V. vulnificus in mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The recombinant His(6)-tagged VvpE of V. vulnificus is capable of inducing high antibody response in mice to confer effective protection against lethal challenge with V. vulnificus. VvpE might be a potential vaccine candidate to against V. vulnificus infection.


CONCLUSIONS
This study uses His(6)-tagged VvpE to act as vaccine that successfully induces effective and specific anti-VvpE antibody and offers an option for the potential vaccine candidate against V. vulnificus infection.
Chen
Y-C
YC
Department of Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy and Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Jen-Te, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Chang
C-C
CC
Chang
S-Y
SY
Su
J-H
JH
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D045726:Metalloproteases