title: Transient expression of Human papillomavirus type 16 L2 epitope fused to N- and C-terminus of coat  protein of Potato virus X in plants.
abstract: Transient expression of foreign genes based on plant viral vectors is a suitable system for the production of relevant immunogens that can be used for the development of a new generation of vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases. In the present study the epitope derived from HPV-16 L2 minor capsid protein (amino acids 108-120) was expressed from Potato virus X (PVX)-based vector pGR106 as N- or C-terminal fusion with the PVX coat protein (PVX CP) in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The fusion protein L2 108-120-PVX CP was successfully expressed in plants at a level of 170 mg/kg of fresh leaf tissue. The C-terminal fusion protein PVX CP- L2 108-120 was expressed using mutated vector sequence to avoid homologous recombination at a level of 8 mg/kg of fresh leaf tissue. Immunogenicity of L2 108-120-PVX CP virus-like particles was tested after immunization of mice by subcutaneous injection or tattoo administration. In animal sera the antibodies against the PVX CP and the L2 108-120 epitope were found after both methods of vaccine delivery.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Botany, v. v. i., Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Na Karlovce 1a, 16000 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cerovska
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoffmeisterova
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moravec
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Plchova
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Folwarczna
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Synkova
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryslava
authors.forename: Viera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ludvikova
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smahel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000235:genetics; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000378:metabolism*; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C063316:L2 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C058750:coat protein, Potato virus X