A recombinant metalloprotease antigen of Vibrio vulnificus elicits protective antibodies in a murine model

作者：Chen Y C; Chang C C; Chang S Y; Su J H^*

来源：Letters in Applied Microbiology, 2010, 50(2): 168-172.

DOI：10.1111/j.1472-765X.2009.02771.x

• infection
• metalloprotease
• protective effect
• vaccine
• Vibrio vulnificus

Aims:
To investigate whether Vibrio vulnificus metalloprotease (VvpE) can induce the production of specific anti-VvpE antibody to confer effective protection against Vibrio vulnificus infection and to evaluate the possibility of VvpE as a potential vaccine candidate against disease caused by V. vulnificus.
Methods and Results:
The gene encoding the 65-kDa VvpE of V. vulnificus was amplified by PCR and cloned into the expression vector pET21(b). The recombinant VvpE of V. vulnificus was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). This His(6)-tagged VvpE was purified and injected intramuscularly into mice to evaluate its ability to stimulate immune response. Specific antibody levels were measured by ELISA. The 75% protective efficacy of recombinant VvpE was evaluated by active immunization and intraperitoneal challenge with V. vulnificus in mice.
Conclusions:
The recombinant His(6)-tagged VvpE of V. vulnificus is capable of inducing high antibody response in mice to confer effective protection against lethal challenge with V. vulnificus. VvpE might be a potential vaccine candidate to against V. vulnificus infection.
Significance and Impact of the Study:
This study uses His(6)-tagged VvpE to act as vaccine that successfully induces effective and specific anti-VvpE antibody and offers an option for the potential vaccine candidate against V. vulnificus infection.

• 出版日期2010-2