• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2005

The generation of secretory IgA antibodies (Abs) for specific immune protection of mucosal surfaces depends on stimulation of the mucosal immune system, but this is not effectively achieved by parenteral or even oral administration of most soluble antigens. Thus, to produce a possible vaccine antigen against urinary tract infections, the uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) adhesin was genetically coupled to the heat-labile Escherichia coli enterotoxin A2B (ltxa2b) gene and cloned into a pMAL-p2E expression vector. The chimeric construction of pMALfimH/ltxa2b was then transformed into E. coli K-12 TB1 and its nucleotide sequence was verified. The chimeric protein was then purified by applying the affinity chromatography. The purified chimeric protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and westem blotting using antibodies to the maltose binding protein (MBP) or the heat labile E. coli subunit B (LTXB), plus the N-terminal amino acid sequence was analyzedd. The orderly-assembled chimeric protein was confirmed by a modified $G_{M1}$-ganglioside ELISA using antibodies to adhesin. The results indicate that the purified chimeric protein was an Adhesin/LTXA2B protein containing UPEC adhesin and the $G_{M1}$-ganglioside binding activity of LTXB. thisstudy also demonstrate that peroral administration of this chimeric immunogen in mice elicited high level of secretory IgA (sIgA) and serum IgG Abs to the UPEC adhesin. The results suggest that the genetically linked LTXA2B acts as a useful mucosal adjuvant, and that adhesin/LTXA2A chimeric protein might be a potential antigen for oral immunization against UPEC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.304-316
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• 2021

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza virus infections. However, conventional vaccines based on hemagglutinin (HA) have to be annually updated because the HA of influenza viruses constantly mutates. In this study, we produced a 3M2e-3HA2-NP chimeric protein as a vaccine antigen candidate using an Escherichia coli expression system. The vaccination of chimeric protein (15 ㎍) conferred complete protection against A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1; PR8) in mice. It strongly induced influenza virus-specific antibody responses, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. To spare the dose and enhance the cross-reactivity of the chimeric, we used a complex of poly-γ-glutamic acid and alum (PGA/alum) as an adjuvant. PGA/alum-adjuvanted, low-dose chimeric protein (1 or 5 ㎍) exhibited higher cross-protective effects against influenza A viruses (PR8, CA04, and H3N2) compared with those of chimeric alone or alum-adjuvanted proteins in vaccinated mice. Moreover, the depletion of CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and NK cells reduced the survival rate and efficacy of the PGA/alum-adjuvanted chimeric protein. Collectively, the vaccination of PGA/alum-adjuvanted chimeric protein induced strong protection efficacy against homologous and heterologous influenza viruses in mice, which suggests that it may be a promising universal influenza vaccine candidate.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.331-336
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• 1999

p56$^{Ick}$, a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase of the src family, is non-covalently associated with the cell surface coreceptors CD4 and CD8, which are expressed on thymocytes and mature T cells. The coreceptor protein plays an important role during the differentiation of thymocytes and the activation of T cells. DNA constructs were designed to study the roles of CD4 and CD8 during the differentiation of thymocytes. One is a chimeric cDNA which consists of coding regions for the extracellular domain of CD8a and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain of CD4. The other is the same chimeric cDNA but with a point mutation converting Cys to Ala in the Ick-binding site to disrupt the association. We confirmed that the CD8a/CD4 chimeric molecule bound to Ick more efficiently than the wild type CD8a protein. However, the chimeric protein with the Cys$leftrightarro$Ala mutation did not associate with Ick. The results suggest a possibility that the CD8a/CD4 chimeric protein may behave like a CD4 protein in associating with Ick and that it may deliver a signal inside the cell in a similar manner, Analysing effects of the mutant CD8a/CD4 chimeric protein expression in developing thymocytes will elucidate the role of Ick during the determination of CD4/CD8 cell lineages.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2003

The generation of secretory IgA antibodies(Abs) for specific immune protection of mucosal surfaces depends on stimulation of the mucosal immune system, but this is not effectively achieved by parenteral or even oral administration of most soluble antigens. Thus, to produce a possible vaccine antigen against urinary tract infections, the uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) adhesin was genetically coupled to the ctxa2b gene and cloned into a pMAL-p2E expression vector. The chimeric construction of pMALfimHIctxa2b was then transformed into E. coli K-12 TB1 and its nucleotide sequence was verified. The chimeric protein was then purified by applying the affinity chromatography. The purified chimeric protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting using antibodies to the maltose binding protein (MBP) or the cholera toxin subunit B (CTXB), plus the N-terminal amino acid sequence was analyzed. The orderly-assembled chimeric protein was confirmed by a modified $G_{M1}$-ganglioside ELISA using antibodies to adhesin. The results indicate that the purified chimeric protein was an Adhesin/CTXA2B protein containing UPEC adhesin and the $G_{M1}$-ganglioside binding activity of CTXB. This study also demonstrate that peroral administration of this chimeric immunogen in mice elicited high level of secretory IgA and serum IgG Abs to the UPEC adhesin. The results suggest that the genetically linked CTXA2B acts as a useful mucosal adjuvant, and that the adhesin/CTXA2B chimeric protein might be a potential antigen for oral immunization against UPEC.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.162-166
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• 2001

Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of gastric-associated diseases. In our previous study, the Adhesin/CTXA2B was expressed as insoluble recombinant chimeric protein derived from the H. pylori adhesin genetically coupled to CTXA2B subunit in Escherichia coli. Since it is very important to optimize IPTG concentration, culture temperature and composition of medium to maximize cell growth and productivity, these conditional growth factors were determined for increasing the productivity of the expressed Adhesin/CTXA2B chimeric protein in Escherichia coli JM101 carrying pTEDhpa/ctxa2b. Our data demonstrate that optimal medium for increased production of chimeric protein was a YCP/Glu medium composed of 2% yeast extract, 1% casamino acid, phosphate solution [0.3% $KH_2P0_4$, 0.4% $Na_2HP0_4$, 0.25% ($NH_4)_2HPO_4$], and 0.5% glucose. In addition, optimal concentration of IPTG was 1 mM and culture temperature, $37^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.177-180
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• 2001

Glycinecin A, a bacteriocin produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines, inhibits the growth of X. c. pv. vesicatoria. We have reported that purified glycinecin A is composed of two polypeptides, is active over a wide range of pH (6 to 9), and is stable at temperatures up to 60$\^{C}$. Glycinecin A is a heterodimer consisting of 39- and 14-kDa subunits; the two encoding genes, glyA and glyB, respectively, have been cloned (Heu et al. 2001. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67, 4105-4110). Co-expression of glyA and glyB in the same cell is essential for bacteriocin activity. We constructed and produced a chimeric glycinecin A connecting glyA and glyB in one open reading frame. The chimeric glycinecin A has the same bactericidal activity as the wild-type glycinecin A. However, the chimeric glycinecin A is more stable in a wider range of pH and temperature.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1106-1111
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• 2017

Escherichia coli was engineered to sense methanol by employing a chimeric two-component system (TCS) strategy. A chimeric MxaY/EnvZ (MxaYZ) TCS was constructed by fusing the Paracoccus denitrificans MxaY with the E. coli EnvZ. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis and GFP-based fluorescence analysis showed maximum transcription of ompC and the fluorescence at 0.01% of methanol, respectively. These results suggested that E. coli was successfully engineered to sense methanol by the introduction of chimeric MxaYZ. By using this strategy, various chimeric TCS-based bacterial biosensors can be constructed and used for the development of biochemical-producing recombinant microorganisms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.894-901
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• 2012

Based on their respective antitumor and thrombolytic activities, the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin C2 (SEC2) and staphylokinase (Sak) were chosen for the construction of the novel chimeric proteins Sak-linker-SEC2 and SEC2-linker-Sak using a linker composed of nine Ala residues. Both chimeric proteins possessed nearly the same PBMC proliferation stimulating activity and antitumor activity as SEC2 and thrombolytic activity as Sak. Neither the SEC2 or Sak component of each chimeric protein affected the activity of the other component. The results presented in this study provide a possible strategy to prevent and cure tumor thrombus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.490-497
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• 2004

Although the E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) is known to be a potent mucosal adjuvant towards co-administrated unrelated antigens and immunoregulator in T-helper 1-type-mediated autoimmune diseases, a more efficient and useful LTB is still required for prospective vaccine adjuvants. To determine whether a novel chimeric LTB subunit would produce an enhanced mucosal adjuvant activity and immune response, a number of LTB subunits were genetically fused with chimeric proteins using the epitope genes of the envelope glycoprotein E2 (gp51-54) from the classical swine fever virus (CSFV). It was found that the total serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels of BALB/c mice orally immunized with chimeric proteins containing an N-terminal linked LTB subunit (LE1, LE2, and LE3) were higher than those of mice immunized with LTB, E2 epitope, and chimeric proteins that contained a C-terminal linked LTB subunit. In particular, immunization with LE1 markedly increased both the total serum Ig and fecal IgA level compared to immunization with LTB or the E2 epitope. Accordingly, the current results demonstrated that the LTB subunit in a chimeric protein exhibited a strong mucosal adjuvant effect as a carrier molecule, while the chimeric protein containing the LTB subunit stimulated the mucosal immune system by mediating the induction of antigen-specific serum Ig and mucosal IgA. Consequently, an LE1-mediated mucosal response may contribute to the development of effective antidiarrhea vaccine adjuvants.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) poses a significant threat to numerous cyprinid fish species, particularly the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), often resulting in substantial mortalities. This study explores the potential use of a chimeric recombinant snakehead rhabdovirus carrying the SVCV G gene (rSHRV-Gsvcv) as a live vaccine against SVCV infection. Through virulence testing in zebrafish at different temperatures (15 ℃ and 20 ℃), no mortality was observed in groups infected with either rSHRV-wild or chimeric rSHRV-Gsvcv at both temperatures, whereas 100% mortality occurred in fish infected with wild-type SVCV. Subsequently, as no mortality was observed by rSHRV-Gsvcv, three independent experiments were conducted to determine the possible usage of chimeric rSHRV-Gsvcv as a vaccine candidate against SVCV infection. Fish were immunized with either rSHRV-Gsvcv or rSHRV-wild, and their survival rates against the SVCV challenge were compared with a control group injected with buffer alone at four weeks post-immunization. The results showed that chimeric rSHRV-Gsvcv induced significantly higher fish survival rates compared to rSHRV-wild and the control groups. These findings suggest that genetically engineered chimeric rSHRV-Gsvcv holds the potential for a prophylactic measure to protect fish against SVCV infection.