Alga-based HPV16 E7 vaccine elicits specific immune response in mice

Recent development of antigen-expressing plant cells indicated their potential in low-cost vaccines production for large scale vaccination campaigns in developing countries. In this study, we engineered the chloroplasts of unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for the expression of human papillomavirus 16 oncoprotein E7, mutated for low oncogenicity and fused with aadA gene conferring spectinomycin resistance. The potential of transplastomic algae extracts as therapeutic vaccine against oncogenic papillomavirus infection was studied. Fusion protein could be detected in transplastomic algae together with its degradation products. Analysis of immune reactions induced in mice by vaccination with algae extracts showed high production of E7-specific antibodies, but low activation of E7-specific CD8+ cells.

Author(s): Josef Vlasák, Jindřich Bříza1, Štěpán Ryba and Viera Ludvíková

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