title: Immunogenicity of nuclear-encoded LTB:ST fusion protein from Escherichia coli expressed in tobacco plants.
abstract: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is one of the main causative agents of diarrhea in infants and for travelers. Inclusion of a heat-stable (ST) toxin into vaccine formulations is mandatory as most ETEC strains can produce both heat-labile (LT) and ST enterotoxins. In this study, a genetic fusion gene encoding for an LTB:ST protein has been constructed and transferred into tobacco via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic tobacco plants carrying the LTB:ST gene are then subjected to GM1-ELISA revealing that the LTB:ST has assembled into pentamers and displays antigenic determinants from both LTB and ST. Protein accumulation of up to 0.05% total soluble protein is detected. Subsequently, mucosal and systemic humoral responses are elicited in mice orally dosed with transgenic tobacco leaves. This has suggested that the plant-derived LTB:ST is immunogenic via the oral route. These findings are critical for the development of a plant-based vaccine capable of eliciting broader protection against ETEC and targeting both LTB and ST. Features of this platform in comparison to transplastomic approaches are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, 78210 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosales-Mendoza
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Soria-Guerra
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno-Fierros
authors.forename: Dania O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Govea-Alonso
authors.forename: Areli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrera-Díaz
authors.forename: Schuyler S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Korban
authors.forename: Ángel G
authors.initials: ÁG
authors.lastname: Alpuche-Solís
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C034151:heat stable toxin (E coli)