Engineering Euglena gracilis as a heterologous protein expression system for the production of COVID19 vaccines and diagnostic antigens

将细小裸藻工程化为异源蛋白表达系统，用于生产 COVID19 疫苗和诊断抗原

• 批准号: 555219-2020
• 负责人: Emery, Neil
• 金额: $ 3.63万
• 依托单位: Trent University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=705778
• 关键词: Engineering; Euglena; gracilis; heterologous; protein

SARS-CoV-2 (SC2) is a novel coronavirus that has rapidly spread across the world causing the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. The growing impact of COVID-19 on human health and the global economy has highlighted the urgent need for tools to surveil the circulating virus, and effective vaccines to protect against the virus. The SC2 spike protein, characteristic of the virus, has been identified as a leading candidate for vaccine development and serology testing applications. Viral antigens like the spike protein are typically produced using microbes like yeast and bacteria. Through a partnership with Trent University and Noblegen Inc. in Peterborough, Ontario, we will leverage the many advantages of Euglena gracilis over other antigen producing microorganisms and use state-of-the-art techniques in genetic engineering to develop a Euglena-based antigen factory for a subunit of the SC2 spike protein. Euglena is a great organism to use for the proposed research because it is easy to grow in large quantities and naturally produces beneficial molecules like paramylon that can improve the effectiveness of microalgae-based vaccines. Moreover, Euglena products have been deemed safe for human consumption, thus presenting new avenues to access edible vaccines. After demonstration of antigen production by Euglena, the developed system will be optimized for the mass production of SC2 antigens, but also other antigens, that can be used for vaccines and serological testing applications.

SARS-CoV-2（SC2）是一种新型冠状病毒，已在全球迅速蔓延，引发了前所未有的COVID-19危机。COVID-19对人类健康和全球经济的影响越来越大，突显出迫切需要监控传播病毒的工具和有效的疫苗来抵御病毒。 SC2刺突蛋白是该病毒的特征，已被确定为疫苗开发和血清学检测应用的主要候选者。像刺突蛋白这样的病毒抗原通常是由酵母和细菌等微生物产生的。通过与特伦特大学和Noblegen Inc.的合作，在安大略的彼得伯勒，我们将利用纤细裸藻相对于其它抗原产生微生物的许多优点，并使用基因工程中最先进的技术来开发用于SC2刺突蛋白亚基的基于裸藻的抗原工厂。裸藻是一种很好的生物体，可以用于拟议的研究，因为它很容易大量生长，并自然产生有益的分子，如副藻，可以提高微藻疫苗的有效性。此外，眼虫属产品被认为对人类消费是安全的，从而为获得可食用疫苗提供了新的途径。 在演示了Euglena的抗原生产后，开发的系统将被优化用于大规模生产SC2抗原，以及可用于疫苗和血清学检测应用的其他抗原。