Cloning, expression, purification and antigenicity of antigenic region of MOMP protein from chlamydia trachomatis

Abstract

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular parasites, gram-negative bacteria and also is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Correspondingly, the MOMP protein contains more than 60 of the extra-membrane proteins, which indicates the importance of this protein for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. The purpose of the study is to produce recombinant protein composed of antigenic regions of the MOMP protein and its antigenicity. Materials and Methods: In this study, the regions with the highest antigenic property of the omp1 gene, with a length of 674 bp, were obtained based on bioinformatics software's and linked with flexible linker. Then, it was cloned and expressed in plasmid vector pET32a. After purification of the recombinant protein, its antigenicity was evaluated using Western blot technique with serum of infected people with Chlamydia. Results: Based on the results, in all serum samples of patients with chlamydial infections, antibody response bands were observed in nitrocellulose paper. Anyway, no antibody response band was detected in the serum samples of healthy people. Conclusion: Data showed that antigenic region of MOMP protein can be expressed by in E. coli. This protein was recognized by sera patients suffering from Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Conclusively, the recombinant protein has similar epitopes and close antigenic properties to the natural form of this antigen. © 2017, Semnan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved