Production of polyclonal antibodies against the human respiratory syncytial virus nucleoprotein and phosphoprotein expressed in Escherichia coli

The nucleoprotein (N) and the phosphoprotein (P) of the human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), A2 strain, were cloned into pMAL-c2e vector. The proteins were expressed fused with the maltose-binding protein (MBP) and were preferentially found in the soluble fraction of the bacterial lysate. After their purification using amylose resin, almost no other protein was detected in SDS–PAGE. The fused proteins were cleaved by digestion with enterokinase and then used as antigens for BALB/c mice immunization. The obtained polyclonal antibodies were tested against HRSV infected cells in immunofluorescence assays. The results indicate that the antibodies generated against the recombinant proteins were able to recognize the virus proteins. We now intend to purify the cleaved N and P proteins and use them in structural studies. The recombinant proteins will also be tested as potential inducers of a protective immunity against the HRSV.