Expression and secretion in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger of a cell surface glycoprotein from the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus, by using the fungal amdS promoter system

Expression of microbial lipase in filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger: a review

Lipase has high economic importance and is widely used in biodiesel, food, detergents, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. The rapid development of synthetic biology and system biology has not only paved the way for comprehensively understanding the efficient operation mechanism of Aspergillus niger cell factories but also introduced a new technological system for creating and optimizing high-efficiency A. niger cell factories. In this review, all relevant data on microbial lipase enzyme sources and general properties are gathered and updated. The relationship between A. niger strain morphology and protein production is discussed. The safety of A. niger strain is investigated to ensure product safety. The biotechnologies and factors influencing lipase expression in A. niger are summarized. This review focuses on various strategies to improve lipase expression in A. niger. The summary of these methods and the application of the gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 system can further improve the efficiency of constructing the engineered lipase-producing A. niger.

More than Three Decades of Bm86: What We Know and Where to Go

Tick and tick-borne disease control have been a serious research focus for many decades. In a global climate of increasing acaricide resistance, host immunity against tick infestation has become a much-needed complementary strategy to common chemical control. From the earliest acquired resistance studies in small animal models to proof of concept in large production animals, it was the isolation, characterization, and final recombinant protein production of the midgut antigen Bm86 from the Australian cattle tick strain of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (later reinstated as R. (B.) australis) that established tick subunit vaccines as a viable alternative in tick and tick-borne disease control. In the past 37 years, this antigen has spawned numerous tick subunit vaccines (either Bm86-based or novel), and though we are still describing its molecular structure and function, this antigen remains the gold standard for all tick vaccines. In this paper, advances in tick vaccine development over the past three decades are discussed alongside the development of biotechnology, where existing gaps and future directives in the field are highlighted.

Expression of recombinant HAO3 from an Iranian isolate of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum in Pichia pastoris and evaluation of its antigenicity

Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum tick is considered as one of the main problem of ruminants' productivity in endemic countries such as parts of Africa, the Middle East and India. The disease is economically important and hence, its control and eradication is a priority. This problem reinforces the need for alternative approach like vaccine to control tick infestations instead of continuous application of acaricide which led to the natural selection of the acaricide-resistant ticks. Therefore, the present study provided evidence for the construction of transformant containing the chromosomally integrated multi-copy expression cassettes of HAO3, its successful and efficient expression in Pichia pastoris yeast and purification of the secreted protein by ultrafiltration (UF) system in a high level yield and purity. The result of antigenicity assay for the rHAO3 protein pointed well toward its capability for the elicitation of antibody response in immunized rabbits. Interestingly, the results indicated that the expressed HAO3 protein reacted well with mid gut antigen (MGAg) and rBm86 (Gavac) antisera in ELISA and western blot assays making it evident that the epitopes present in expressed protein are well recognized by the antibodies against MGAg and rBm86 proteins. Moreover, the presence of cross-reactive epitopes between rHAO3 protein with its native antigen from mid gut cells was also determined.

Protective efficacy of bacterial membranes containing surface-exposed BM95 antigenic peptides for the control of cattle tick infestations

The Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus BM86 and BM95 glycoproteins are homologous proteins that protect cattle against tick infestations. In this study, we demonstrated that the recombinant chimeric protein comprising tick BM95 immunogenic peptides fused to the A. marginale MSP1a N-terminal region for presentation on the Escherichia coli membrane was protective against R. microplus infestations in rabbits. This system provides a novel and simple approach for the production of tick protective antigens by surface display of antigenic protein chimera on live E. coli and suggests the possibility of using recombinant bacterial membrane fractions for vaccination against cattle tick infestations.

Expression of recombinant Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, R. annulatus and R. decoloratus Bm86 orthologs as secreted proteins in Pichia pastoris

Background

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp. ticks economically impact on cattle production in Africa and other tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Tick vaccines constitute a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to tick control. The R. microplus Bm86 protective antigen has been produced by recombinant DNA technology and shown to protect cattle against tick infestations.

Results

In this study, the genes for Bm86 (R. microplus), Ba86 (R. annulatus) and Bd86 (R. decoloratus) were cloned and characterized from African or Asian tick strains and the recombinant proteins were secreted and purified from P. pastoris. The secretion of recombinant Bm86 ortholog proteins in P. pastoris allowed for a simple purification process rendering a final product with high recovery (35–42%) and purity (80–85%) and likely to result in a more reproducible conformation closely resembling the native protein. Rabbit immunization experiments with recombinant proteins showed immune cross-reactivity between Bm86 ortholog proteins.

Conclusion

These experiments support the development and testing of vaccines containing recombinant Bm86, Ba86 and Bd86 secreted in P. pastoris for the control of tick infestations in Africa.

Production and biochemical characterization of the recombinant Boophilus microplus Bm95 antigen from Pichia pastoris

The new antigen Bm95 from the cattle tick Boophilus microplus was recently isolated, cloned and expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The recombinant protein has shown to induce protection in cattle against infestations of B. microplus under controlled and production conditions. In this paper we report the production and large-scale purification of the Bm95 protein, following a simple and cost-effective process. The antigen was obtained highly aggregated, forming particles ranging from 26 to 30 nm and with purity higher than 80%. The process yield was 0.55 g of pure Bm95 protein per liter of culture. The 98% of the primary structure of the recombinant protein was verified by mass spectrometry. Three amino acid changes in comparison with the sequence deduced from cDNA were detected by LC-MS/MS. The antigen was also obtained N-glycosylated, as previously reported for heterologous protein expression in P. pastoris.

Integrated control of Boophilus microplus ticks in Cuba based on vaccination with the anti-tick vaccine Gavac

Boophilus microplus has developed resistance against a range of chemical acaricides which has stimulated the development of alternative methods such as vaccination against ticks. In Cuba, the Bm86-based recombinant vaccine Gavac has been successfully used in a number of controlled laboratory and field trials in cattle against B. microplus. In this paper, we have evaluated Gavac in a large scale field trial wherein 588,573 dairy cattle were vaccinated with the aim to reduce the number of acaricidal treatments. It was found that the number of acaricidal treatments could be reduced by 87% over a period of 8 years (1995--2003). Prior to the introduction of the vaccine, 54 clinical cases of babesiosis and six fatal cases were reported per 1000 animals. Six years later, the incidence of babesiosis was reduced to 1.9 cases per 1000 cattle and mortality reduced to 0.18 per 1000. The national consumption of acaricides in Cuba could be reduced by 82% after the implementation of the integrated anti-B. microplus control program.

Control of ticks resistant to immunization with Bm86 in cattle vaccinated with the recombinant antigen Bm95 isolated from the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus

The recombinant Bm86-containing vaccine Gavac(TM) against the cattle tick Boophilus microplus has proved its efficacy in a number of experiments, especially when combined with acaricides in an integrated manner. However, tick isolates such as the Argentinean strain A, show low susceptibility to this vaccine. In this paper we report on the isolation of the Bm95 gene from the B. microplus strain A, which was cloned and expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris producing a glycosylated and particulated recombinant protein. This new antigen was effective against different tick strains in a pen trial, including the B. microplus strain A, resistant to vaccination with Bm86. A Bm95-based vaccine was used to protect cattle against tick infestations under production conditions, lowering the number of ticks on vaccinated animals and, therefore, reducing the frequency of acaricide treatments. The Bm95 antigen from strain A was able to protect against infestations with Bm86-sensitive and Bm86-resistant tick strains, thus suggesting that Bm95 could be a more universal antigen to protect cattle against infestations by B. microplus strains from different geographical areas.

Arthropod vaccines

Antigens located in the midgut of the tick are hidden from the host's immune system. Egg production of ticks can be reduced when ticks are fed on animals vaccinated with midgut antigens of the tick, and a subunit vaccine formulated with the recombinant antigen Bm86 is now available that can reduce the number of ticks infesting cattle grazing on pasture. Midgut antigens used in vaccines against insects that transmit pathogenic organisms to humans have not been as effective in reducing insect fecundity and an alternative approach may be necessary. Transmission-blocking vaccines directed at interfering with the vector-pathogen interaction could result in loss of vector competence and block the spread of disease-causing organisms.

Large-scale production in Pichia pastoris of the recombinant vaccine Gavac against cattle tick

A gene coding for the Bm86 tick protein was recently cloned, expressed in Pichia pastoris and shown to induce an inmunological response in cattle against ticks. Moreover, the Gavac vaccine (Heber Biotec S.A., Havana, Cuba), which contains this recombinant protein, has proved to control the Boophilus microplus populations under field conditions. This paper reviews the development and large-scale production of this vaccine, the efficacy of the resulting product and the strategy followed in designing its production plant. The production plant fulfills biosafety requirements and GMP.

Uniformity of protective antigens among isolates of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus

Gut membrane antigens were extracted from ten isolates of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus; the antigen extracts were probed with bovine antisera and three murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in Western blots and dot-ELISA. The antisera had been obtained from cattle which were vaccinated with larval and gut extracts of B. microplus, and which were subsequently protected (84% and 94% respectively) against challenge with B. microplus. One of the mAbs (QU13) has been demonstrated to precipitate protective antigens form the midgut of B. microplus. Gut antigens from all ten isolates displayed similar reactivity profiles against bovine antisera and also against mAbs in Western blots. The end-point titres of antigens in dot-ELISA showed four-fold variation between isolates against bovine antisera, and also against mAb QU13. Larval membrane antigen extracted from N-strain B. microplus reacted with QU13 in dot-ELISA, indicating that protective antigens are common to both larval and adult stages of B. microplus. It was concluded that protective antigens recognized by QU13 and antigens recognized by sera from protected cattle were conserved between the ten isolates examined, and between life-cycle stages.

Simulation of control strategies for the cattle tick Boophilus microplus employing vaccination with a recombinant Bm86 antigen preparation

Current strategies for the control of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus include the use of chemicals as the principal control method. These methods, however, have met with partially successful results. The recent development of immunological methods for the control of the cattle tick has opened new possibilities for the design of control strategies. Employing the results obtained by us in experiments testing the effect of vaccination with the recombinant vaccine, Gavac (Heber Biotec S.A.), on tick populations, we have developed a model to evaluate, through a computer program, the efficacy of the vaccine as a control method. The action of the vaccine on the control of tick populations was simulated and the specific serum antibody titers required to decrease the tick population in the field were calculated. The specific serum antibody titer required to decrease the tick population in the field after the first vaccination scheme was found to be > or = 57,200 and the antibody titer required to maintain this effect when the vaccine is already acting and after successive revaccinations was found to be > or = 27,500. Considerations about revaccination schemes and combination between vaccination and acaricide treatments as possible control strategies are discussed.

Insertion into Aspergillus nidulans of functional UDP-GlcNAc: alpha 3-D- mannoside beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase I, the enzyme catalysing the first committed step from oligomannose to hybrid and complex N-glycans

Filamentous fungi are capable of secreting relatively large amounts of heterologous recombinant proteins. Recombinant human glycoproteins expressed in this system, however, carry only carbohydrates of the oligomannose type limiting their potential use in humans. One approach to the problem is genetic engineering of the fungal host to permit production of complex and hybrid N-glycans. UDP-GlcNAc:alpha 3-D-mannoside beta- 1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnT I) is essential for the conversion of oligomannose to hybrid and complex N-glycans in higher eukaryotic cells. Since GnT I is not produced by fungi, we have introduced into the genome of Aspergillus nidulans the gene encoding full-length rabbit GnT I and demonstrated the expression of GnT I enzyme activity at levels appreciably higher than occurs in most mammalian tissues. All the GnT I activity in the Aspergillus transformants remains intracellular suggesting that the rabbit trans-membrane sequence may be capable of targeting GnT I to the fungal Golgi apparatus.

Changing patterns of vitellin-related peptides during development of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus

The major components of protein extracts from the cattle tick Boophilus microplus eggs and larvae of various ages were characterized by molecular sieving chromatography, ion exchange chromatography and SDS-PAGE. The fractions analysed showed a changing chromatographic pattern development. A serum raised against the components of a fraction showing characteristics of vitellin strongly reacted in Western blots with the major peptides of extracts from eggs, larvae, gut and ovary. Comparison of patterns obtained by electrophoresis in non-denaturing PAGE, stained with Coomassie blue or with benzidine/hydrogen peroxide, revealed that the major proteins of these extracts are haemoproteins, possibly in different aggregation states or heterogeneous in composition.

Control of Boophilus microplus populations in grazing cattle vaccinated with a recombinant Bm86 antigen preparation

Current methods for the control of cattle tick Boophilus microplus infestations are not effective and the parasite remains a serious problem for the cattle industry in tropical and subtropical areas. Recently, we developed a vaccine against B. microplus employing a recombinant Bm86 (rBm86) antigen preparation (Gavac, Heber Biotec) and it was shown to induce a protective response in vaccinated animals under controlled conditions. Here we show that, under field conditions in grazing cattle, the vaccine is able to control B. microplus populations. Two parasite-free farms were employed for the study. In the first farm, animals were vaccinated with the recombinant vaccine, while, in the second, animals received a saline injection in adjuvant. After immunization, animals were artificially infected and the infestation rate was recorded. Over the 33 weeks of the experiment, the infestation rate was lower in the vaccinated group compared with the control group. At the end of the experiment it was necessary to use chemicals in the control farm after serious losses in production and animals.

Commercialisation of a recombinant vaccine against Boophilus microplus

Increasingly, there is need for methods to control cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) infestations by the use of non-chemical technology. This need is brought about by a mixture of market forces and the failure or inadequacy of existing technology. A recombinant vaccine has now been developed against the tick. This vaccine relies on the uptake with the blood meal of antibody directed against a critical protein in the tick gut. The isolation of the vaccine antigen, Bm86, and its production as a recombinant protein is briefly described. The vaccine has been tested in the field, has been taken through the full registration process and is now in commercial use in Australia. A related development has occurred in Cuba. The potential for improvement of the current vaccine and for the development of similar vaccines against other haematophagous parasites is discussed.

Detection of Bm86 antigen in different strains of Boophilus microplus and effectiveness of immunization with recombinant Bm86

The control of tick populations by using conventional strategies poses several problems, including the appearance of organophosphate resistant strains, among others. The possibility of using alternative strategies such as vaccination with tick antigens has been suggested by several authors. One particular antigen (Bm86) has been described and shown to be able to induce a protective immunity against the cattle tick Boophilus microplus. In this paper we demonstrate by means of immunohistochemical staining that this antigen is conserved among several strains of this species. These results correlate with those showing that animals vaccinated with a preparation of recombinant Bm86 were protected against challenge with the four different strains tested, including one resistant to organophosphates. These results favour the immunization with recombinant Bm86 for the control of the cattle tick B. microplus.

Vaccines against blood-sucking arthropods

This paper provides selected personal insights on the development of vaccines against blood-sucking arthropods, with particular emphasis on vaccines against ticks. The emergence of novel or concealed antigens of haematophagous ectoparasites as candidate vaccine antigens is reviewed and the effect of feeding by the parasite on the expression of protective antigens is considered. The distribution of protective antigens through life cycle stages, the stage of the life cycle targeted by protective responses, and the nature of these responses, are commented on briefly. Concealed antigens of the gut, including the peritrophic membrane, and other internal organs, are evaluated for the role they play in induction of immunity artificially. Some of the work carried out to purify and characterise protective antigens of tick guts is described. A commentary is developed on vaccines that combine both "concealed" and "exposed" antigens. Some of the problems associated with the infestation and challenge of vaccinated hosts in the field are identified and the delivery of parasite antigens as vaccines that are both protective and "user-friendly" is emphasised as a major problem to be solved.

High level expression of the B. microplus Bm86 antigen in the yeast Pichia pastoris forming highly immunogenic particles for cattle

Recently, a gene coding for the Bm86 tick gut glycoprotein was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to induce an immunological response in cattle to damage ticks engorging on these animals (Rand et al., 1989). We report here the increased expression of the Bm86 antigen from the cattle tick Boophilus microplus in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The recombinant protein was obtained with a purity higher than 95% by a procedure with a high yield. The conducted biochemical studies demonstrated the antigen to be glycosylated and found to form particles of around 17 to 45 nm in diameter with enhanced immunogenic properties. Ticks engorging on vaccinated cattle were significantly damaged as a result of the immune response against the recombinant antigen. This system permits the obtainment in a high yield of the tick Bm86 antigen, in a glycosylated and particulated form.

Generic approaches to obtaining efficacious antigens from vector arthropods

The development of vaccines to control ectoparasites is dependent upon the identification of key parasite antigens. While a rational, pragmatic approach to antigen identification has yielded a successful vaccine candidate from ticks, there may be problems with such an approach when dealing with other ectoparasites. As an alternative approach, the search for vaccine candidates may be facilitated by cloning and expressing parasite genes encoding proteins involved in key physiological roles. A number of criteria may be applied to short-list candidate vaccines, these being; (a) host antibodies should be able to gain access to the parasite antigen; (b) sufficient antibody must gain access to the antigen target; (c) the formation of antibody-antigen complex should disrupt the normal function of the parasite antigen (d) the antigen should share conserved structural/sequence motifs with related, characterised, proteins, thus allowing the use of recombinant DNA methods to clone and express the candidate antigen. We propose three major groups of parasite antigens which may fulfill these criteria; serine proteases, chemoreceptors/ion channels and neuropeptides.