Plant-produced cottontail rabbit papillomavirus L1 protein protects against tumor challenge: a proof-of-concept study

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
University of Canterbury. School of Biological Sciences
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2006
Authors
Kohl, T.
Hitzeroth, I.I.
Stewart, D.
Varsani, A.
Govan, V.A.
Christensen, N.D.
Williamson, A.L.
Rybicki, E.P.
Abstract

The native cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) L1 capsid protein gene was expressed transgenically via Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation and transiently via a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) vector in Nicotiana spp. L1 protein was detected in concentrated plant extracts at concentrations up to 1.0 mg/kg in transgenic plants and up to 0.4 mg/kg in TMV-infected plants. The protein did not detectably assemble into viruslike particles; however, immunoelectron microscopy showed presumptive pentamer aggregates, and extracted protein reacted with conformation-specific and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Rabbits were injected with concentrated protein extract with Freund's incomplete adjuvant. All sera reacted with baculovirus-produced CRPV L1; however, they did not detectably neutralize infectivity in an in vitro assay. Vaccinated rabbits were, however, protected against wart development on subsequent challenge with live virus. This is the first evidence that a plant-derived papillomavirus vaccine is protective in an animal model and is a proof of concept for human papillomavirus vaccines produced in plants.

Description
073YK Times Cited:9 Cited References Count:45
Citation
Kohl, T., Hitzeroth, I.I., Stewart, D., Varsani, A., Govan, V.A., Christensen, N.D., Williamson, A.L., Rybicki, E.P. (2006) Plant-produced cottontail rabbit papillomavirus L1 protein protects against tumor challenge: a proof-of-concept study. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 13(8), pp. 845-853.
Keywords
virus-like particles, cervical-cancer, young-women, immunization, type-16, expression, vaccine, vector, crpv, neutralization
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights