Open AccessImmune response to rotavirus VP4 expressed in an attenuated strain of Shigella flexneri
Author(s) -
Loy Adèle L.,
Allison Gwen,
Arias Carlos F.,
Verma Naresh K.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1999.tb01353.x
Subject(s) - shigella flexneri , shigella , immunogenicity , biology , rotavirus , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , immune system , shigellosis , antigen , virus , salmonella , escherichia coli , immunology , bacteria , gene , genetics
An attenuated strain of Shigella flexneri was utilised to express viral protein (VP) 4 of rotavirus and the immunogenicity of the recombinant constructs was studied in BALB/c mice. VP4 was expressed as a fusion with maltose binding protein (MBP) in both the cytoplasm and periplasm, with a much higher level of expression occurring in the former. While all constructs induced a Shigella ‐specific response in mice, only the construct expressing MBP‐VP4 in the cytoplasm of Shigella stimulated an immune response specific to rotavirus. This study demonstrates that Shigella can be used to deliver rotavirus antigens and induces an immune response directed towards both rotavirus and Shigella .