Production of porcine circovirus 2b cap protein in a recombinant protein expression system based on baculovirus

• Grant number: 22/14213-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Angelo José Magro
• Grantee: Elian Antonio Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pig breeding is an important activity for the economy and development of our country. However, swine farmers need to be care of the health of their animals, which is an essential factor for the success of swine breeding. Some diseases are extremely contagious and can severely harm livestock if not properly diagnosed and treated. Some pathogens are extremely contagious and can severely harm the global swine industry, such as Porcine Circovirus Disease. This porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2b) is a small, circular, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), non-enveloped, ambisense, icosahedral DNA virus composed of 1767-1768 nucleotides. This project aims the establishment and standardization of a protein expression system based on the use of baculovirus for in vitro production of the PCV2b capsid protein (cap protein). The standardization of the experimental production of this protein is an essential step that will allow obtaining mutant variants that will help in the understanding of the viral replication process, allowing not only eventual interventions in this aspect of viral biology but also the development of new vaccine technologies. Hence, the characteristics and advantages related to the domain of a protein expression system based on the use of baculovirus seems to be one of the good alternatives for the establishment of a robust and reliable production platform of recombinant PCV2b proteins. The accomplishment of these works could, therefore, contribute for the understanding of essential questions still poorly understood regarding the biology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of PCV2 and the development of effective biotechnological products for the control of swine circovirus. This work is part of a research grant project recently approved by FAPESP that aims the study of the PCV2 capsid assembly mechanism.