title: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts express an orally immunogenic protein targeting the p210 epitope implicated in atherosclerosis immunotherapies.
abstract: An algae-based vaccine model against atherosclerosis was developed with positive findings in terms of antigen yield and immunogenicity in mouse. Several immunotherapies against atherosclerosis have been evaluated at the preclinical level thus far, with some of them currently under evaluation in clinical trials. In particular, the p210 epitope from ApoB100 is known to elicit atheroprotective responses. Considering that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an attractive host for the production and delivery of subunit vaccines, in this study a chimeric protein consisting of the B subunit of the cholera toxin and the p210 epitope from ApoB100 (CTB:p210) has been expressed in C. reinhardtii chloroplast as an attempt to establish an oral vaccine candidate against atherosclerosis. The Chlamydomonas-made CTB:p210 protein was successfully expressed at levels of up to 60 µg per g of fresh weight biomass. The antigenic activity of the CTB and the p210 moiety was preserved in the CTB:p210 chimera. Moreover the algae-made CTB:p210 showed an immunogenic activity, when orally administered to BALB/c mice, as evidenced the presence of anti-p210 serum antibodies in mice treated with the algae-derived CTB:p210. The antibody response lasts for at least 80 days after the last boost. This experimental model is proposed as a convenient tool in the development of low cost atherosclerosis vaccines of easy compliance and friendly delivery. Further studies will determine the therapeutic potential of this algae-made vaccine in atherosclerosis animal models.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, 78210, San Luis, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Josué I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Beltrán-López
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, 78210, San Luis, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero-Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, 78210, San Luis, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monreal-Escalante
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, 78210, San Luis, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bañuelos-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biorreactores, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, 78210, San Luis, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luz Mt
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Paz-Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, 78210, San Luis, SLP, Mexico. rosales.s@fcq.uaslp.mx.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosales-Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007167:Immunotherapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D021381:Protein Transport; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D000939:Epitopes; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D002772:Cholera Toxin
keywords: Antigen delivery vehicle; Cardiovascular disease; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; Green bio-factory; Immunotherapy; Low density lipoprotein; Oral immunization