title: A recombinant chimeric protein containing B chains of ricin and abrin is an effective vaccine candidate.
abstract: Both ricin toxin (RT) and abrin toxin (AT) are 2 important toxin agents as potantial bioweapons. A dual subunit vaccine against RT and AT exposure is a promising option for developing prophylactic vaccination. In this study, we constructed a dual vaccine with RT B chain and AT B chain named RTB-ATB. The RTB-ATB chimeric protein was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), and the purified protein was used to evaluate the immune response by a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. The main effects included dose of RTB-ATB, route of immunization injection, immunization time interval, and dose of native toxins challenge. For 2 × LD(50) challenge of RT or AT, 100% of the RTB-ATB immunized mice survived and regained or exceeded their initial weights within 10 days. For 4 × LD(50) challenge, different routes of immunization injection caused significant difference (P < 0.05), intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of immunogen protected mice better than the subcutaneous (s.c.) administration. In conclusion, when administered i.p. to mice with 25 μg per mouse and immunization time interval Π in the absence of adjuvant, the chimeric protein elicited a stronger immune response and protected the animals from a dose of native toxins which was 4 times higher than their LD(50) in unvaccinated mice. Besides, the RTB-ATB chimeric protein could induce specific neutralizing antibodies against these 2 toxins. We anticipate that this study will open new possibilities in the preparation of RTB-ATB dual subunit vaccine against the exposure to deadly RT and AT.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Fengtai District, Beijing, PR China; Tianjin Key Lab for Biomarkers Occupational and Environmental Hazard; Medical College of Chinese People's Armed Police Force; Tianjin, PR China.
authors: Junhong
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Fengtai District, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Shan
authors: S
authors: Gao
authors: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Fengtai District, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Zhang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Fengtai District, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Kang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Fengtai District, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Wuchun
authors: W
authors: Cao
authors: Institute of Military Veterinary; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Changchun, PR China.
authors: Na
authors: N
authors: Xu
authors: Institute of Military Veterinary; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Changchun, PR China.
authors: Wensen
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Fengtai District, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Jinglin
authors: J
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000036:Abrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011041:Poisoning / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012276:Ricin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D000036:Abrin; D012276:Ricin
keywords: B chain; abrin; bioterrorism; chimeric protein; immunogen; ricin; vaccine candidate