IMMUNOGENIC, NONINFECTIOUS POLIO SUBVIRAL PARTICLES SYNTHESIZED IN SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE

Polioviral genes coding for P1, the precursor for the structural prote ins, and 3CD, the viral protease, were cloned in a Saccharomyces cerev isiae inducible expression system. N-antigenic empty capsids could be isolated from the yeast cell extract provided that pirodavir, a capsid -binding compound and capsid stabilizer, was added during the inductio n period and during purification. Purification was by immunoaffinity c hromatography, The purified empty capsids had the same immunogenicity as poliovirus virions, The techniques described might be useful for th e production of new non-infectious vaccines.