abstract

• The development of new alternative platforms for subunit vaccine production is a priority in the biomedical field. In this study, Ustilago maydis, the causal agent of common corn smut or %27huitlacoche%27has been genetically engineered to assess expression and immunogenicity of the B subunit of the cholera toxin (CTB), a relevant immunomodulatory agent in vaccinology. An oligomeric CTB recombinant protein was expressed in corn smut galls at levels of up to 1.3 mg g-1 dry weight (0.8%25 of the total soluble protein). Mice orally immunized with %27huitlacoche%27-derived CTB showed significant humoral responses that were well-correlated with protection against challenge with the cholera toxin (CT). These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using edible corn smut as a safe, effective, and low-cost platform for production and delivery of a subunit oral vaccine. The implications of this platform in the area of molecular pharming are discussed. Copyright: © 2015 Gu et al.
• The development of new alternative platforms for subunit vaccine production is a priority in the biomedical field. In this study, Ustilago maydis, the causal agent of common corn smut or 'huitlacoche'has been genetically engineered to assess expression and immunogenicity of the B subunit of the cholera toxin (CTB), a relevant immunomodulatory agent in vaccinology. An oligomeric CTB recombinant protein was expressed in corn smut galls at levels of up to 1.3 mg g-1 dry weight (0.8%25 of the total soluble protein). Mice orally immunized with 'huitlacoche'-derived CTB showed significant humoral responses that were well-correlated with protection against challenge with the cholera toxin (CT). These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using edible corn smut as a safe, effective, and low-cost platform for production and delivery of a subunit oral vaccine. The implications of this platform in the area of molecular pharming are discussed. Copyright: © 2015 Gu et al.

authors

• Becerra-Flora A.
• Jiménez-Bremont J.F.
• Juárez-Montiel M.
• Korban S.S.
• Monreal-Escalante E.
• Romero-Maldonado A.
• Rosales Mendoza Sergio

publication date

• 2015-01-01

published in

• PLoS ONE  Journal

keywords

• cholera toxin B subunit; cholera toxin B subunit recombinant protein; recombinant protein; subunit vaccine; unclassified drug; cholera toxin; cholera vaccine; animal experiment; animal tissue; Article; cholera; controlled study; corn smut; cost effectiveness analysis; CTB gene; drug efficacy; drug safety; dry weight; feasibility study; female; fungal gene; fungal strain; genetic engineering; humoral immunity; immunogenicity; mouse; nonhuman; plant disease; protein expression; transgenic organism; Ustilago maydis; vaccination; vaccine production; animal; biosynthesis; cholera; immunization; immunology; maize; molecular farming; Animals; Cholera; Cholera Toxin; Cholera Vaccines; Immunization; Mice; Molecular Farming; Zea mays

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1371/journal.pone.0133535

PubMed ID

• 26207365

start page

end page

volume

• 10

issue

• 7