1. Overexpression of the Bam Complex Improves the Production of Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP in the E. coli Outer Membrane
- Author
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Dung T. Huynh, Wouter S. P. Jong, Gregory M. Koningstein, Peter van Ulsen, and Joen Luirink
- Subjects
Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein ,β-barrel assembly machinery ,outer membrane protein ,E. coli ,OMV-based vaccine ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 ,Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Abstract
A licensed Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) vaccine is not yet available. Recombinant Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein (Ct-MOMP), the most abundant constituent of the chlamydial outer membrane complex, is considered the most attractive candidate for subunit-based vaccine formulations. Unfortunately, Ct-MOMP is difficult to express in its native structure in the E. coli outer membrane (OM). Here, by co-expression of the Bam complex, we improved the expression and localization of recombinant Ct-MOMP in the E. coli OM. Under these conditions, recombinant Ct-MOMP appeared to assemble into a β-barrel conformation and express domains at the cell surface indicative of correct folding. The data indicate that limited availability of the Bam complex can be a bottleneck for the production of heterologous OM vaccine antigens, information that is also relevant for strategies aimed at producing recombinant OMV-based vaccines.
- Published
- 2022
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