| 摘要 |
<p>A system for the heterologous expression of a viral protein or a fragment thereof comprises a ciliate host cell transformed with at least one cDNA encoding a viral protein, or a fragment thereof, linked to a promoter. The viral protein-encoding sequence may also be linked to as signal sequence for secretion. The ciliate protozoan is preferably a Tetrahymena species, and the viral protein is preferably a viral fusion protein, such as influenza haemagglutinin. Genes encoding for viral fusion proteins such as haemagglutinin are modified for expression in, and secretion from, ciliate host cells, by codon optimisation and by deletion of the hydrophobic transmembrane domain, fusion peptide and/or HA2 domain. The ciliate-expressed viral proteins may be used for vaccination.</p> |
