Optimization of the cultivation and purification for the production scale-up of the envelope protein domain III of zika virus in Escherichia coli

Abstract

Zika vírus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus that belongs to the Flaviviridae family and Flavivirus genus. It is capable of infect humans and cause neurological complications including Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly. The main function of ZIKV envelope E protein is the interaction with cell receptors to promote the fusion between viral envelope and host cell membrane. The E protein is composed of three domains (I, II and III). The domain III (EDIII) is the region that interacts with the cell receptor, which makes it an important target for production of neutralizing antibodies that would inhibit the viral adsorption. Different studies have shown the importance of the EDIII in viral neutralization and its potential to the development of vaccines against ZIKV, and also its potential do be used as discriminant antigen to be implemented in serological tests for the diagnosis of Zika. In this context, the goal of this project is to optimize the production and purification of Zika virus EDIII (EDII ZIKV) produced in Escherichia coli, in order to obtain the antigen in the soluble fraction with preserved antigenicity and functionality, seeking the scale-up to the bioreactor. The results of the present study brings academic originality and applied importance, since there is a need, not yet achieved, of economically accessible and specific serological tests, as well as effective vaccines for Zika virus.