Heterologous expression of Neisserial proteins
Alternative and improved approaches to the heterologous expression of the proteins of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . These approaches typically affect the level of expression, the ease of purification, the cellular localization, and/or the immunological properties of the expressed protein.
1. A method for producing an immunogenic protein comprising expressing in a heterologous host a protein comprising a sequence having greater than 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 78, in which at least one domain in the protein is deleted, wherein the at least one domain is selected from the group comprising amino acids 24-268 of SEQ ID NO: 78, amino acids 269-307 of SEQ ID NO: 78, and amino acids 308-364 of SEQ ID NO: 78; and purifying the protein.
2. The method of claim 1 , in which the N-terminal domain of the protein is mutated.
3. The method of claim 1 , in which the heterologous host is an E. coli host.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein includes a C-terminal His-tag.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein includes a N-terminal GST.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein ‘961’ is at the N-terminus of a hybrid protein.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein comprises a sequence having greater than 95% sequence identity to a sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 78.
8. A protein expressed by the method of claim 1 .