Oral immunization of mice with transgenic tomato fruit expressing respiratory syncytial virus-F protein induces a systemic immune response

• Published in: Transgenic research 2000-04, Vol.9 (2), p.127-135
• Main Authors: SANDHU, J. S, KRASNYANSKI, S. F, DOMIER, L. L, KORBAN, S. S, OSADJAN, M. D, BUETOW, D. E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; AF protein; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; F protein; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health. Pharmaceutical industry; Immunization; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Lycopersicon esculentum; Lycopersicon esculentum - genetics; Lycopersicon esculentum - metabolism; Medical research; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Plants, Genetically Modified; Plasmids - genetics; Production of active biomolecules; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - prevention & control; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines - administration & dosage; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines - immunology; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; Tomatoes; Vaccines, Edible - immunology; Vaccines, Subunit - immunology; Vaccins; Viral Proteins - biosynthesis; Viral Proteins - genetics; Viral Proteins - immunology
• ISSN: 0962-8819; 1573-9368
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1008979525909

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important pathogens of infancy and early childhood. Here a fruit-based edible subunit vaccine against RSV was developed by expressing the RSV fusion (F) protein gene in transgenic tomato plants. The F-gene was expressed in ripening tomato fruit under the control of the fruit-specific E8 promoter. Oral immunization of mice with ripe transgenic tomato fruits led to the induction of both serum and mucosal RSV-F specific antibodies. The ratio of immunoglobulin subclasses produced in response to immunization suggested that a type 1 T-helper cell immune response was preferentially induced. Serum antibodies showed an increased titer when the immunized mice were exposed to inactivated RSV antigen.