| title: | PVA as a model system for structural and functional characteristics of potyviruses and plant virus based vaccine design. |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5931 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.8. Molecular Biology 2.7. Biotechnology, Food and Drink Technology 4.2. Crop Sciences (inc. Horticulture) |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics |
| head of project: | Lilian Järvekülg |
| duration: | 01.01.2004 - 31.12.2007 |
| description: | Global control of infectious diseases is dependent upon the development of novel, inexpensive and easily produced vaccine and antiviral reagents. Plants and plant viruses have recently been considered attractive systems for expressing and delivering foreign proteins or peptides as immunogens to be used for the development of new vaccination strategies. Filamentous plant potyvirus coat proteins (CP) are particularly suitable carriers to present immunogenic peptides to the immune system. They can autoassembly and form virus-like partcles (VLPs) even in the absence of the viral RNA. Moreover, they can be synthesized in high amounts in E.coli to form VLPs. Since both the N-and the C-terminal regions of PVA CP in VLPs are not required for its autoassembly and are surface-exposed, system could be used for the presentation of appropriate B- and T-cell epitopes in combination and even simultaneously. Moreover, genetically engineered PVA RNA, containing gene for the coat protein fused to desired foreign epitopes, could be used to produce virus particles in plants. Such plant material can potentially be used for the oral delivery of the vaccine. At present virus movement is an active field of study and is important for p.1. also. We have created icDNA ofPVA isolate U and a set of chimeras PVA-U/PVA-B11 to study the mechanisms of the long distance movement in potato. A study of the relationships between structure and function of the N- and C-terminal domains of the CP of PVA and VLPs will be performed. (connected with p.1.) |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Reet Hunt | KBFI | teadur | |
| 2. | Jelena Izotova | Tallinn Technical University | magistrant | |
| 3. | Lilian Järvekülg | Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics | senior scientist | |
| 4. | Piret Laht | KBFI/TTÜ | doktorant, insener | |
| 5. | Viiu Paalme | KBFI | teadur | |
| 6. | Sirje Timmusk | KBFI/TTÜ | doktorant | |