Heterologous synthesis of N and M fragments of capsid protein VP2 of avian infectious bursal disease virus in yeast Pichia pastoris

BACKGROUND: Infectious bursal disease is one of the most common and economically important viral diseases of birds. Vaccination is currently the most effective way to control IBD. Subunit vaccines contain only the immunogenic protein of the pathogen or its fragments, but do not contain other proteins, lipopolysaccharides, toxins, which avoids vaccination side effects. AIM: The aim of the work was to obtain yeast Pichia pastoris strains that synthesize and secrete the fragments of major coat protein VP2 of the infectious bursal disease virus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The DNA sequences encoding the N and M fragments of VP2 protein, were cloned under the control of the AOX1 gene promoter and integrated into the genome of P. pastoris strains X-33 (mut+) and GS115 (his4). RESULTS: The analysis of proteins secreted by the obtained strains revealed the presence of additional proteins with a molecular weights corresponding to the target proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the obtained strains of P. pastoris producers of N and M fragments of VP2 protein can be used for antigen production to create a subunit vaccine against avian IBD.