Preparation of ChIL-2 and IBDV VP2 fusion protein by baculovirus expression system

This study aims to produce an effective subunit vaccine against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). The genes of chicken interleukin-2 (ChIL-2) and IBDV viral protein 2 (VP2) were amplified and fused by splice overlap extension-polymerase chain reaction (SOE-PCR). The fusion gene was digested by EcoR I/Kpn I and inserted into pBacPAK8 vector, resulting in recombinant transfer plasmid pBacPakVP2-IL2. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into Sf-9 cells accompanied with hybrid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HyNPV) genome DNA and lipofectin. Plaque-purification indicated that we had got the recombinant Hy-VP2-IL2. Fusion protein VP2-IL2 was expressed effectively both in insect cells and bombyx mori. The expression of fusion protein was confirmed by ELISA, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting assay, respectively. This efficient system allows us to meet the need for inexpensive vaccines required by the poultry industry.