Cloning, expression and characterization of Brugia malayi abundant larval protein transcript-2 (BmALT-2) expressed in Pichia pastoris

Besides mass drug administration, successful elimination of human lymphatic filariasis, a mosquito-borne tropical parasitic disease, requires developing other suitable prophylactic agents such as vaccines. The Brugia malayi abundant larval transcript-2 (BmALT-2) protein has been identified as one possible candidate. So far, it (E-ALT-2) has been expressed as a 24-kDa non-glycosylated protein in Escherichia coli. Easy and low-cost downstream purification of secreted BmALT-2 in Pichia pastoris may be a vital option to inexpensive large-scale production. This study focused on expression and molecular characterization of BmALT-2 (P-ALT-2) in P. pastoris. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that some P. pastoris colonies produced 27 and 24 kDa bands and few colonies produced a 24-kDa band. Preliminary studies confirmed glycosylation of 27 kDa P-ALT-2. The ratio of glycosylated and non-glycosylated P-ALT-2 was 20:80–70:30 in various colonies. The maximum yield of glycosylated and non-glycosylated P-ALT-2 was measured as 7.99 ± 1.12 and 9.18 ± 1.35 mg L−1 compared to 6.5 ± 1.2 mg L−1 of E-ALT-2 in shake flasks. Their overall expression was about 25% and 35% higher than that in E. coli. The glycosylated P-ALT-2 exhibited about 15% higher immunoreactivity with human endemic normal sera. The enhanced secreted production by P. pastoris may lead to cost-effective large-scale production of BmALT-2