Abstract

GOMEZ-NUNEZ, Luis et al. West Nile virus E protein expressed in transformed corn embryogenic callus type II, by biobalistic. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.1, pp.1-14. ISSN 2448-6698.

Cloning and heterologue expression of antigens to pathogenic agents which affect humans and animals is an effective way of producing subunitary vaccines. An analysis was done of stable expression of the E gene coding for the West Nile Virus (WNV) envelope (E) glycoprotein in corn type II embryogenic callus transformed with biobalistics using the constitutive CAMV35S promoter. This protein is responsible for WNV immunity induction. Transgene expression in transformed calluses with the WNV E glycoprotein was identified by RT-PCR. Western Blot was used to verify protein expression with total soluble protein (TSP) extracts from the transformed calluses. A 68 kDa protein was identified and 0.86 % TSP attained. This WNV E glycoprotein production system allows production of this protein in almost half the time of conventional techniques, a significant advance in experimental immunological design. This is the first time that this kind of evaluation was done. We suggest evaluating the transformed embryogenic calluses in animals by oral route in order to test its efficacy as a candidate of vaccine.

Keywords : Corn embryogenic callus; E Protein; West Nile virus.