Methods for displaying polypeptides and uses thereof
Provided herein are methods and compositions for displaying a polypeptide on a tubular structure and uses of such displayed polypeptides in the production of antibodies or vaccines.
1. An isolated tubular structure comprised of a plurality of molecules of a VipA polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 and a plurality of molecules of a VipB polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3,
wherein the VipA polypeptide molecules assemble with the VipB polypeptide molecules to form the tubular structure,
wherein the VipA polypeptide or the VipB polypeptide further comprises a polypeptide of interest as a fusion polypeptide, and
wherein the tubular structure displays a plurality of molecules of said polypeptide of interest.
2. A method for making a vaccine, the method comprising: combining an isolated tubular structure of claim 1 with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
3. The isolated tubular structure of claim 1 , wherein the displayed polypeptide has a conformation substantially similar to the folding pattern of the protein of interest when not displayed in this manner.
4. The isolated tubular structure of claim 1 , wherein the displayed polypeptide is more immunogenic than the protein of interest when not displayed in this manner.
5. The isolated tubular structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of molecules of the polypeptide of interest are displayed as a regular, repetitive structure.
6. The isolated tubular structure of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide of interest comprises a viral protein, a bacterial protein, a fungal protein or a tumor protein.