Tag Archives: vaccine

Production of recombinant SARS-COV-2 proteins and diphtheria toxoid CRM197-based fusion

O. I. Krynina1, S. I. Romaniuk1, O. B. Gorbatiuk1,2,
O. H. Korchynskyi1,3,4, А. V. Rebriiev1, Ya. S. Kulyk1,
Ye. O. Kozadaieva1, A. A. Siromolot1,5, M. M. Guzyk1,
D. V. Kolybo1*, S. V. Komisarenko1

1Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
2State Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Medicine, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
3Centre for Innovative Research in Medical and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland;
4S. Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies, Lviv, Ukraine;
5ESC “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: kolibo@biochem.kiev.ua

Received: 10 October 2021; Accepted: 12 November 2021

The quickly emerged global COVID-19 pandemic raised a desperate need in the development of protecting vaccines targeting this disease. Therefore, a generation of effective producers of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins became an urgent task. Its resolving contributes to the study of functional SARS-CoV-2 properties, as well as will allow developing the domestic COVID-19 vaccine in Ukraine, thus playing an important strategic role in tackling the pandemics. The aim of the study was to generate prokaryotic and eukaryotic producers of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins and to isolate nucleocapsid (N) protein, receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein, as well as RBD fused to the carrier – diphtheria toxoid CRM197. For this purpose, appropriate genetic constructs, in particular, replication deficient recombinant AdvC5-based adenoviral vectors expressing the SARS-CoV-2 proteins and CRM197-fused conjugate were created through methods of molecular biology and genetic engineering. Restriction analysis and/or DNA sequencing confirmed that we created the correct constructs. Immobilized metal affinity chromatography was used to purify the recombinant proteins. Compliance of their properties was confirmed by the results from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, immunoenzymatic assay and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. As a result, we generated E. coli Rosetta (DE3) bacterial strain and HEK293 cell line producing recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins and CRM197-based fusion. In addition, pure N protein, RBD of S protein and RBD-CRM197 fusion protein were isolated. The obtained recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins can be used to study immunogenic and antigenic properties of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Cells producing recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins and RBD-CRM197 fusion protein are able to provide cheap and safe synthesis of the antigenic substances for domestic development and production of immunodiagnostics for COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines in Ukraine.

Immunogenicity assay of KatG protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice: preliminary screening of TB vaccine

P. Purkan1, R. Budiyanto1, R. Akbar1, S. P. A. Wahyuningsih2, W. Retnowati3

1Biochemistry Division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Airlangga University, Campus C, Jl. Mulyorejo-Surabaya, Indonesia;
2Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Airlangga University, Campus C, Jl. Mulyorejo-Surabaya, Indonesia;
3Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Campus C, Jl. Moestopo-Surabaya, Indonesia;
e-mail: purkan@fst.unair.ac.id

The tuberculosis (TB) disease is still widely found even though BCG vaccine given to many people. Ineffectiveness of the BCG vaccine is one of causes that make the difficulties in preventing TB transmission. Objective of the research was to determine the immunogenicity of KatG protein of M. tuberculosis clinical isolate L19 in mice. The KatG protein as antigen was prepared by expression of the katG gene of M. tuberculosis clinical isolate L19 in Escherichia coli BL21 using pColdII-DNA vector. After purification by affinity chromatography, the KatG was vaccinated to mice to detect its immunogenicity. The expression of katG in E. coli BL21 could result in KatG protein with molecular weight 80 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The pure KatG protein could significantly stimulate the immune response of mice by triggering the antibodies production of IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG2c, IgG3, and IgM. The highest antibody level was obtained when the mice were vaccinated by KatG L19 with the dose of 45 μg/ml. Of the antibodies, the IgG2c isotype was dominantly produced in the blood serum. The KatG protein exhibited a high immunogenici­ty in mice, so it is possible to develop as a vaccine candidate for TB. A clinical test should be performed in a future to ensure its safety as a therapeutic protein.