title: An Env-derived multi-epitope HIV chimeric protein produced in the moss Physcomitrella patens is immunogenic in mice.
abstract: The first report on the recombinant production of a candidate vaccine in the moss system. The need for economical and efficient platforms for vaccine production demands the exploration of emerging host organisms. In this study, the production of an antigenic protein is reported employing the moss Physcomitrella patens as an expression host. A multi-epitope protein from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) based on epitopes from gp120 and gp41 was designed as a candidate subunit vaccine and named poly-HIV. Transgenic moss plants were generated carrying the corresponding poly-HIV transgene under a novel moss promoter and subsequently seven positive lines were confirmed by PCR. The poly-HIV protein accumulated up to 3.7 µg g(-1) fresh weight in protonema cultures. Antigenic and immunogenic properties of the moss-produced recombinant poly-HIV are evidenced by Western blots and by mice immunization assays. The elicitation of specific antibodies in mice was observed, reflecting the immunogenic potential of this moss-derived HIV antigen. This is the first report on the production of a potential vaccine in the moss system and opens the avenue for glycoengineering approaches for the production of HIV human-like glycosylated antigens as well as other vaccine prototypes under GMP conditions in moss bioreactors.
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, lucia.orellana.es@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orellana-Escobedo
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosales-Mendoza
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero-Maldonado
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Eva L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monreal-Escalante
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno-Fierros
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reski
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019068:Bryopsida / Q000235:genetics*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000939:Epitopes; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D011994:Recombinant Proteins