Recombinant dengue virus envelope protein/maltose-binding protein antigens and subunit vaccine compositions containing said antigens

摘要

A recombinant fusion protein (DEN-2 MBP) containing the B domain of the dengue (DEN 2 envelope protein is disclosed as a candidate subunit immunogen for vaccination against dengue virus infection. A gene fragment encoding amino acid 298 to amino acid 400 of the DEN-2 virus envelope was expressed as a fusion protein with the maltose binding protein (MBP) of Escherichia coli (E. coli). The recombinant fusion protein was purified and analyzed for its antigenicity imunogenicity and ability to protect mice against lethal challenge. This antigen is detected by monoclonal antibody (3H5) which is specific for a neutralizing epitope on the DEN-2 envelope and reacted with homologous polyclonal mouse immune ascitic fluid and DEN-2 immune human sera. A recombinant fusion plasmid bearing the DEN-2 MBP DNA sequence, expressing the fusion product in E. coli is disclosed. The fusion protein when administered to a host elicits a virus neutralizing antibody response which confers partial protection to the recipient animals against challenge infection. Sera from immunized mice revealed no neutralizing antibodies to any of the other DEN serotypes in the plaque reduction neutralization assay (PRNT).