PARASITE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT - LARGE-SCALE RECOVERY OF IMMUNOGENIC TAENIA-OVIS FUSION PROTEIN GST-45W(B X) FROM ESCHERICHIA-COLI INCLUSION-BODIES/

Genetically modified Escherichia coli expressing the Taenia ovis fusio n protein GST-45W(B/X) as inclusion bodies were grown in volumes rangi ng up to 1000 1. Bacteria were inactivated by heat or chemical treatme nt without affecting immunogenicity. The fusion protein was recovered in a highly immunogenic form from washed inclusion bodies and from ure a-solubilised inclusion bodies. The fusion protein was found to be sta ble in solution after storage at 4 degrees C for up to 2 years. Vaccin es formulated with fusion protein from urea-soluble inclusion bodies g ave consistently high protection (89-100%) against challenge infection . The methods described enabled the production of sufficient vaccine f or large field trials. These trials generated the data required for pr oduct registration and manufacture of a vaccine to prevent T. ovis inf ection in sheep.