title: Evaluation of Trichodysplasia Spinulosa-Associated Polyomavirus Capsid Protein as a New Carrier for Construction of Chimeric Virus-Like Particles Harboring Foreign Epitopes.
abstract: Recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) represent a promising tool for protein engineering. Recently, trichodysplasia spinulosa-associated polyomavirus (TSPyV) viral protein 1 (VP1) was efficiently produced in yeast expression system and shown to self-assemble to VLPs. In the current study, TSPyV VP1 protein was exploited as a carrier for construction of chimeric VLPs harboring selected B and T cell-specific epitopes and evaluated in comparison to hamster polyomavirus VP1 protein. Chimeric VLPs with inserted either hepatitis B virus preS1 epitope DPAFR or a universal T cell-specific epitope AKFVAAWTLKAAA were produced in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Target epitopes were incorporated either at the HI or BC loop of the VP1 protein. The insertion sites were selected based on molecular models of TSPyV VP1 protein. The surface exposure of the insert positions was confirmed using a collection of monoclonal antibodies raised against the intact TSPyV VP1 protein. All generated chimeric proteins were capable to self-assemble to VLPs, which induced a strong immune response in mice. The chimeric VLPs also activated dendritic cells and T cells as demonstrated by analysis of cell surface markers and cytokine production profiles in spleen cell cultures. In conclusion, TSPyV VP1 protein represents a new potential carrier for construction of chimeric VLPs harboring target epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, V.A. Graiciuno 8, Vilnius LT-02241, Lithuania. alma.gedvilaite@bti.vu.lt.
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gedvilaite
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, V.A. Graiciuno 8, Vilnius LT-02241, Lithuania. indre.kodze@bti.vu.lt.
authors.forename: Indre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kucinskaite-Kodze
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, V.A. Graiciuno 8, Vilnius LT-02241, Lithuania. rita.lasickiene@bti.vu.lt.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lasickiene
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, V.A. Graiciuno 8, Vilnius LT-02241, Lithuania. albertas.timinskas@bti.vu.lt.
authors.forename: Albertas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timinskas
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, V.A. Graiciuno 8, Vilnius LT-02241, Lithuania. ausra.vaitiekaite@bti.vu.lt.
authors.forename: Ausra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaitiekaite
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, V.A. Graiciuno 8, Vilnius LT-02241, Lithuania. danguole.ziogiene@bti.vu.lt.
authors.forename: Danguole
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ziogiene
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, V.A. Graiciuno 8, Vilnius LT-02241, Lithuania. aurelija.zvirbliene@bti.vu.lt.
authors.forename: Aurelija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zvirbliene
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004337:Drug Carriers; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle
keywords: Chimeric virus-like particles; TSPyV VP1 protein; immunogenicity; polyomaviruses