title: Optimization of multi-epitopic HIV-1 recombinant protein expression in prokaryote system and conjugation to mouse DEC-205 monoclonal antibody: implication for in-vivo targeted delivery of dendritic cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multi-epitopic protein vaccines and direction of vaccine delivery to dendritic cells (DCs) are promising approaches for enhancing immune responses against mutable pathogens. Escherichia coli is current host for expression of recombinant proteins, and it is important to optimize expression condition. The aim of this study was the optimization of multi-epitopic HIV-1 tat/pol/gag/env recombinant protein (HIVtop4) expression by E. coli and conjugation of purified protein to anti DEC-205 monoclonal antibody as candidate vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, expression was induced in BL21 (DE3) E. coli cells by optimization of induction condition, post induction incubation time, temperature and culture medium formula. Some culture mediums were used for cell culture, and isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside was used for induction of expression. Protein was purified by Ni-NTA column chromatography and confirmed against anti-His antibody in western-blotting. To exploit DCs properties for immunization purposes, recombinant protein chemically coupled to αDEC-205 monoclonal antibody and confirmed against anti-His antibody in western-blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The optimum condition for expression was 1 mM IPTG during 4 hr cultures in 2XYT medium, and final protein produced in soluble form. Conjugation of purified protein to αDEC-205 antibody resulted in smears of protein: antibodies conjugate in different molecular weights.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The best cultivation condition for production of HIVtop4 protein is induction by 1 mM IPTG during 4 hr in 2XYT medium. The final concentration of purified protein was 500 µg/ml.
authors: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Roghayeh
authors: R
authors: Rahimi
authors: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Massoumeh
authors: M
authors: Ebtekar
authors: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Seyed Mohammad
authors: SM
authors: Moazzeni
authors: Biotechnology Research Center, Kermanshah University, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Mostafaie
authors: Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Mahdavi
keywords: Conjugation; Dendritic cell targeting; Expression optimization; Multi-epitope; Recombinant protein