Production of self-assembling protein nanocages and virus-like particles displaying porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus epitopes in Nicotiana benthamiana
Abstract
Livestock diseases are major hurdles facing the agriculture industry. One major illness affecting the swine industry is the viral porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). Current methods of controlling its spread are inadequate, so there is urgent need for better prevention tools. Vaccines are the most effective way to control viral diseases because viruses cannot be controlled by antibiotics. Protein nanoparticle-based subunit vaccines provide safe, effective disease prevention. In this study, an epitope derived from portions of the two most abundant PRRS viral surface proteins, M and GP5, was fused to three self‑assembling proteins for use as vaccine candidates. Their expression was examined without the epitope using transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, and all three proteins were detected on Western blots. Self-assembling M‑GP5 fusion proteins were also expressed at similar or higher levels than the self‑assembling proteins alone. These findings provide groundwork for future research investigating these PRRS vaccine candidates.