Rabies virus nucleoprotein expressed in silkworm pupae at high-levels and evaluation of immune responses in mice
Yin X, Li Z, Li J, Yi Y, Zhang Y, Li X, Li B, Yang B, Lan X, Li Y, Jiao W, Zhang Z, Liu J.
Journal of Biotechnology
doi.org/10.1016/j/ jbiotec.2012.11.002
Abstract
Rabies is one of the most fatal zoonotic diseases in developing countries, where a safe, cheap and effective vaccine against the disease remains unaffordable. In this paper, we describe a new silkworm-baculovirus expression system to express the nucleoprotein (N) gene of rabies virus and evaluation of the immune response in BALB/c mice. A recombinant baculovirus -rBmNPV(RV-N) carrying the N gene of rabies virus Evelyn Rokitniki Abelseth (ERA) strain was constructed and the N protein expression was evaluated in Bombyx mori (BmN)cells and silkworm pupae by immunofluorescence staining, western blots and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The immune response to vaccines was evaluated based on serum IgG antibody titers and challenge experiments. The study revealed that N protein of rabies virus can be highly expressed in silkworm baculovirus expression system and the vaccine of N antigen presents a promising approach for the prevention of rabies virus.
