Construction of pIRES2 vector encoding truncated NS3 of HCV and IL-18 for DNA vaccine studies

Introduction: Long term complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection include fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma and although the disease is treatable with the newly introduced direct acting antivirals, but factors such as drug resistance, viral genotype and adverse effects can l...

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Main Authors: M Zavvar, A Moshiri, F Motevali, MH Pouriayevali, G Bahramali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pasteur Institute of Iran 2015-05-01
Series:Vaccine Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://vacres.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-55-en.html
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author M Zavvar
A Moshiri
F Motevali
MH Pouriayevali
G Bahramali
author_facet M Zavvar
A Moshiri
F Motevali
MH Pouriayevali
G Bahramali
author_sort M Zavvar
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Long term complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection include fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma and although the disease is treatable with the newly introduced direct acting antivirals, but factors such as drug resistance, viral genotype and adverse effects can limit the effectiveness of therapy. Therefore, development of effective, safe and affordable prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines is a global goal. This study was undertaken for construction of a vector containing the coding region for  a truncated form of nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) of HCV and IL-18 cytokine gene fused to murine Fcy2a as molecular adjuvantfor assessmentas a DNA vaccine candidate.  Methods: A truncated form of NS 3 was amplified and cloned in pIRES2 containing IL-18 hybrid gene. Expression of the truncated NS3 and bioactivity of IL-18 fusion protein were assessed in transfected HEK293 T cells. Physicochemical properties determination, secondary structure, 3D modelingand T-cell epitope predictionswere made using various online tools. Results: In silico analysis of truncated NS3 predicted a molecular weight of 32.35 kDa containing epitopic regions with the highest scores for binding to MHC complex. 3D model of IL-18showed that fusion with murine Fc had not impaired the structure. HEK293 T cells were successfully transfected with pIRES-IL18-NS3construct and expression of truncated NS3 with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 32 kDa was confirmed by Western blotting.  Conclusion: Despite the advantages, widespread use of DNA vaccination has been hampered by low immunogenicity. Truncated NS3 was expressed albeit in low amount with bioactive IL-18 fusion proteinas a molecular adjuvant Immunogenicity assessment of this novel combination as a DNA vaccine candidate is underway.
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spelling doaj.art-907559f1c32e4266a80853071ff957012022-12-21T23:52:30ZengPasteur Institute of IranVaccine Research2383-28192423-49232015-05-01212428Construction of pIRES2 vector encoding truncated NS3 of HCV and IL-18 for DNA vaccine studiesM Zavvar0A Moshiri1F Motevali2MH Pouriayevali3G Bahramali4 Pasteur Institute of Iran Pasteur Institute of Iran Pasteur Institute of Iran Tarbiat Modares University Pasteur Institute of Iran Introduction: Long term complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection include fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma and although the disease is treatable with the newly introduced direct acting antivirals, but factors such as drug resistance, viral genotype and adverse effects can limit the effectiveness of therapy. Therefore, development of effective, safe and affordable prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines is a global goal. This study was undertaken for construction of a vector containing the coding region for  a truncated form of nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) of HCV and IL-18 cytokine gene fused to murine Fcy2a as molecular adjuvantfor assessmentas a DNA vaccine candidate.  Methods: A truncated form of NS 3 was amplified and cloned in pIRES2 containing IL-18 hybrid gene. Expression of the truncated NS3 and bioactivity of IL-18 fusion protein were assessed in transfected HEK293 T cells. Physicochemical properties determination, secondary structure, 3D modelingand T-cell epitope predictionswere made using various online tools. Results: In silico analysis of truncated NS3 predicted a molecular weight of 32.35 kDa containing epitopic regions with the highest scores for binding to MHC complex. 3D model of IL-18showed that fusion with murine Fc had not impaired the structure. HEK293 T cells were successfully transfected with pIRES-IL18-NS3construct and expression of truncated NS3 with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 32 kDa was confirmed by Western blotting.  Conclusion: Despite the advantages, widespread use of DNA vaccination has been hampered by low immunogenicity. Truncated NS3 was expressed albeit in low amount with bioactive IL-18 fusion proteinas a molecular adjuvant Immunogenicity assessment of this novel combination as a DNA vaccine candidate is underway.http://vacres.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-55-en.htmlhcvns3il18dna vaccineadjuvant
spellingShingle M Zavvar
A Moshiri
F Motevali
MH Pouriayevali
G Bahramali
Construction of pIRES2 vector encoding truncated NS3 of HCV and IL-18 for DNA vaccine studies
Vaccine Research
hcv
ns3
il18
dna vaccine
adjuvant
title Construction of pIRES2 vector encoding truncated NS3 of HCV and IL-18 for DNA vaccine studies
title_full Construction of pIRES2 vector encoding truncated NS3 of HCV and IL-18 for DNA vaccine studies
title_fullStr Construction of pIRES2 vector encoding truncated NS3 of HCV and IL-18 for DNA vaccine studies
title_full_unstemmed Construction of pIRES2 vector encoding truncated NS3 of HCV and IL-18 for DNA vaccine studies
title_short Construction of pIRES2 vector encoding truncated NS3 of HCV and IL-18 for DNA vaccine studies
title_sort construction of pires2 vector encoding truncated ns3 of hcv and il 18 for dna vaccine studies
topic hcv
ns3
il18
dna vaccine
adjuvant
url http://vacres.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-55-en.html
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