Chimeric orthohepadnavirus core particles for oral delivery of vaccines: Part I. Transformation of tobacco plants with a gene encoding a c-terminus truncated hepatitis B virus core protein. Part II. Construction of a woodchuck hepatitis virus core protein-based universal epitope carrier and test expression in Escherichia coli.

Abstract

Recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) core particles have been successfully used as particulate carriers exposing viral and bacterial antigens on their surface. The objective of this research was to explore the use of recombinant core particles from HBV and its close relative the woodchuck hepatitis virus for edible vaccine technology. This was accomplished in two parts. Part 1 was the transformation of a truncated HBV core protein gene into transgenic tobacco plants and characterization of the gene's expression with respect to mRNA levels, protein levels, and particle self-assembly. Part 2 was the construction of a "universal antigen carrier" based on the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) core protein and generation and characterization of chimeric WHV core proteins carrying two different epitopes from the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein. In conclusion, it appears that a different approach may be required to express core proteins from HBV-like viruses in transgenic tobacco plants. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)