Co-production of hemagglutinin H9N2 influenza virus and fusion protein Newcastle virus in insect cell using baculovirus expression system.

Influenza and Newcastle disease are the most important poultry diseases that cause high annual damage to poultry farms worldwide. Newcastle virus fusion (F) gene and Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin (HA) gene are capable of encoding F and HA proteins that are the main factors in creating immunity, so this study aimed to clone and express these genes in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells using baculovirus expression system. After isolating the Newcastle and Influenza virus genome, the HA gene of influenza virus and the F gene of Newcastle virus were amplified by reverse transcriptase PCR and specific primers and then cloned into pFastBacTM Dual plasmid. A recombinant sucker with these genes was produced in the DH10Bac host cell. By transfecting Sf9 cells with recombinant bacmid, expression was assessed by SDS-PAGE, western blotting, and Bradford methods. Cloning of genes into the bacmid was successful. By transfecting the recombinant bacmid into Spodoptera frugiperda cells, 218 µg/ml of the recombinant protein was obtained in the supernatant. In addition, the presence of protein was confirmed by western blotting. The PCR products of HA and F genes showed one band of 1.7 kb size using specific primers. The pFastHA1 vector was about 7 kb in size. Two bands of about 7 kb and 1.7 kb were created by ligation of the F gene and pFastHA1 vector based on enzymatic digestion, indicating the correct ligation of F gene under the P10 promoter. This is the first report on the cloning and Co-expression of two HA and F genes using baculovirus expression system and can be a candidate for dual influenza and Newcastle vaccine. Mixtures of these recombinant proteins can be used as vaccine candidates against both avian influenza and Newcastle disease.