Transient expression of foreign genes based on plant viral vectors is a suitable system for the production of relevant immunogens that can be used for the development of a new generation of vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases. In the present study the epitope derived from HPV-16 L2 minor capsid protein (amino acids 108-120) was expressed from Potato virus X (PVX)-based vector pGR106 as N- or C-terminal fusion with the PVX coat protein (PVX CP) in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The fusion protein L2 108-120-PVX CP was successfully expressed in plants at a level of 170 mg/kg of fresh leaf tissue. The C-terminal fusion protein PVX CP- L2 108-120 was expressed using mutated vector sequence to avoid homologous recombination at a level of 8 mg/kg of fresh leaf tissue. Immunogenicity of L2 108-120-PVX CP virus-like particles was tested after immunization of mice by subcutaneous injection or tattoo administration. In animal sera the antibodies against the PVX CP and the L2 108-120 epitope were found after both methods of vaccine delivery.

• MeSH
• Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel MeSH
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay MeSH
• Epitopes genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Genetic Vectors genetics   MeSH
• Plants, Genetically Modified MeSH
• Immunization MeSH
• Cloning, Molecular MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Plant Leaves metabolism   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred C57BL MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Oligonucleotides genetics   MeSH
• Oncogene Proteins, Viral metabolism   MeSH
• Antibodies, Viral blood   MeSH
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins immunology   metabolism   MeSH
• Nicotiana metabolism   MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Transmission MeSH
• Virion immunology   MeSH
• Capsid Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Blotting, Western MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH