Glycosylated F4 (K88) fimbrial adhesin FaeG expressed in barley endosperm induces ETEC-neutralizing antibodies in mice

Jussi Joensuu (Corresponding Author), Mirkka Kotiaho, Teemu Teeri, Leena Valmu, Anna-Maria Nuutila, Kirsi-Marja Oksman-Caldentey, Viola Niklander-Teeri

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    42 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The F4-positive enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains are a frequent cause of porcine post-weaning diarrhea. Orally administered F4 fimbriae or FaeG, the major subunit and adhesin of F4, induce a protective mucosal immune response in F4 receptor-positive piglets. Feed plants carrying immunogenic subunit proteins can offer great advantages for oral vaccination of domestic animals. Here, we describe high-level endosperm-specific production (1% of total soluble proteins) of FaeG in the crop plant barley. The endoplasmic reticulum-targeted recombinant endospermic FaeG (erFaeG) was shown to be heterogeneously glycosylated. The erFaeG showed resistance at digestive conditions simulating piglet gastric fluid. Glycosylation did not abolish the immunogenic character of the FaeG protein, since erFaeG was able to induce F4 fimbria-specific antibodies in mice. Biological activity of these anti-F4 antibodies was demonstrated in vitro by blocking the attachment of the F4+ ETEC to the F4 receptors present on porcine intestinal enterocytes.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)359-373
    Number of pages15
    JournalTransgenic Research
    Volume15
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2006
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • barley
    • enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
    • F4 (K88) fimbriae
    • FaeG
    • N-glycosylation
    • piglet

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