Expression of influenza A virus-derived peptides on a rotavirus VP6-based delivery platform

• Published in: Archives of virology Vol. 166; no. 1; pp. 213 - 217
• Main Authors: Gröhn, Stina, Heinimäki, Suvi, Tamminen, Kirsi, Blazevic, Vesna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.01.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - genetics; Antibody Formation - genetics; Antigens; Antigens, Viral - genetics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brief Report; Capsid - metabolism; Capsid Proteins - genetics; Immunogenicity; Infectious Diseases; Influenza; Influenza A; Influenza A virus - genetics; Insertion; Medical Microbiology; Peptides; Peptides - genetics; Protein engineering; Proteins; Recombinant Proteins - genetics; Rotavirus; Rotavirus - genetics; Virology; Viruses; VP6 protein
• ISSN: 0304-8608; 1432-8798
• DOI: 10.1007/s00705-020-04847-5

Recombinant protein technology enables the engineering of modern vaccines composed of a carrier protein displaying poorly immunogenic heterologous antigens. One promising carrier is based on the rotavirus inner-capsid VP6 protein. We explored different VP6 insertion sites for the presentation of two peptides (23 and 140 amino acids) derived from the M2 and HA genes of influenza A virus. Both termini and three surface loops of VP6 were successfully exploited as genetic fusion sites, as demonstrated by the expression of the fusion proteins. However, further studies are needed to assess the morphology and immunogenicity of these constructs.