<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PPE18 Protein Bodies in Insect Cells: A Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine

Background/Objectives: <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> is the causative agent of tuberculosis and the leading cause of death from a single infection with the microorganism. Tuberculosis remains globally one of the major diseases leading to high mortality rates, with serious implication...

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Main Authors: Pu Wang, Gang Zhang, Yurong Cai, Lingling Jiang, Xiaoxia Niu, Sinong Zhang, Weifeng Gao, Zhiwei Wu, Yong Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Vaccines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/7/671
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author Pu Wang
Gang Zhang
Yurong Cai
Lingling Jiang
Xiaoxia Niu
Sinong Zhang
Weifeng Gao
Zhiwei Wu
Yong Li
author_facet Pu Wang
Gang Zhang
Yurong Cai
Lingling Jiang
Xiaoxia Niu
Sinong Zhang
Weifeng Gao
Zhiwei Wu
Yong Li
author_sort Pu Wang
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> is the causative agent of tuberculosis and the leading cause of death from a single infection with the microorganism. Tuberculosis remains globally one of the major diseases leading to high mortality rates, with serious implications for public health and economic development. Therefore, tuberculosis prevention and control is crucial for global health and socio-economic stability. The development of effective preventive vaccines remains an urgent task in the fight against tuberculosis. Methods: The <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> antigen PPE18 was fused to Zera, and Bacmid was extracted and transfected into Sf9, which was purified and characterized for the formation of nanoparticle protein bodies. BALB/c mice and calves were immunized, and the immunogenicity of the nanoparticle vaccine was assessed by serum antibodies and splenic lymphocytes. Results: Zera-71CA-mCherry can be expressed in Sf9 cells, forming 0.5–1.2 μm protein bodies. Excising the mCherry sequence, Zera-71CA/Zera-PPE18 candidate nanoparticle-immunized mice were able to elicit serum antibody levels and the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, and immunized calves were determined to have high levels of serum antibody levels, and IFN-γ and TNF-α levels. Conclusions: The results indicated that Zera-71CA/Zera-PPE18 recombinant nanoparticles had good immunogenicity as a subunit vaccine in both BALB/c mice and calves and are potential candidates for further development as effective subunit vaccines.
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spelling doaj-art-b971bfba76df4d84ab9ea96f356e33162025-08-20T03:13:54ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-06-0113767110.3390/vaccines13070671<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PPE18 Protein Bodies in Insect Cells: A Candidate Tuberculosis VaccinePu Wang0Gang Zhang1Yurong Cai2Lingling Jiang3Xiaoxia Niu4Sinong Zhang5Weifeng Gao6Zhiwei Wu7Yong Li8School of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, ChinaBackground/Objectives: <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> is the causative agent of tuberculosis and the leading cause of death from a single infection with the microorganism. Tuberculosis remains globally one of the major diseases leading to high mortality rates, with serious implications for public health and economic development. Therefore, tuberculosis prevention and control is crucial for global health and socio-economic stability. The development of effective preventive vaccines remains an urgent task in the fight against tuberculosis. Methods: The <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> antigen PPE18 was fused to Zera, and Bacmid was extracted and transfected into Sf9, which was purified and characterized for the formation of nanoparticle protein bodies. BALB/c mice and calves were immunized, and the immunogenicity of the nanoparticle vaccine was assessed by serum antibodies and splenic lymphocytes. Results: Zera-71CA-mCherry can be expressed in Sf9 cells, forming 0.5–1.2 μm protein bodies. Excising the mCherry sequence, Zera-71CA/Zera-PPE18 candidate nanoparticle-immunized mice were able to elicit serum antibody levels and the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, and immunized calves were determined to have high levels of serum antibody levels, and IFN-γ and TNF-α levels. Conclusions: The results indicated that Zera-71CA/Zera-PPE18 recombinant nanoparticles had good immunogenicity as a subunit vaccine in both BALB/c mice and calves and are potential candidates for further development as effective subunit vaccines.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/7/671PPE18<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>Zera nanoparticlesvaccineimmunity
spellingShingle Pu Wang
Gang Zhang
Yurong Cai
Lingling Jiang
Xiaoxia Niu
Sinong Zhang
Weifeng Gao
Zhiwei Wu
Yong Li
<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PPE18 Protein Bodies in Insect Cells: A Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine
Vaccines
PPE18
<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>
Zera nanoparticles
vaccine
immunity
title <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PPE18 Protein Bodies in Insect Cells: A Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine
title_full <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PPE18 Protein Bodies in Insect Cells: A Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine
title_fullStr <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PPE18 Protein Bodies in Insect Cells: A Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine
title_full_unstemmed <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PPE18 Protein Bodies in Insect Cells: A Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine
title_short <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PPE18 Protein Bodies in Insect Cells: A Candidate Tuberculosis Vaccine
title_sort i mycobacterium tuberculosis i ppe18 protein bodies in insect cells a candidate tuberculosis vaccine
topic PPE18
<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>
Zera nanoparticles
vaccine
immunity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/7/671
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