Cloning and Expression of Listeria monocytogenes Listeriolysin O in Lactobacillus plantarum

The protein listeriolysin O (LLO) encoded by hly gene, is one of the most important virulence factors of Listeria monocytogenes. This highly potent immunogenic cholesterol binding toxin has hemolytic activity, responsible for phagosomal membrane disruption and bacterial escape to the cytoplasm and facilitating the stimulation of CD8 T cells and Th1 response. Recently pathobiotechnological vaccination using probiotic bacteria have been proposed. One of these strategies is expression of LLO in non-pathogenic bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria as delivery strains.
Our aim in this study was cloning of hly gene in a Lactobacillus species via pNZ8110, an inducible expression vector which is specific for Lactococcus species.
hly gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into pNZ8110 by restriction enzymes cutting and ligation method. After transformation and propagation in E. coli MC1061 intermediate host, it was successfully electrotransformed into Lactobacillus plantarum.
Gel electrophoresis of colony PCR, extracted plasmids and restriction analysis along with sequencing confirmed the transformation. After induction using supernatant of nisin producer Lactococcus lactis NZ9700 strain, Expression of LLO was confirmed by SDS PAGE and western blot.
Here, we have employed a nonpathogenic probiotic strain; Lactobacillus plantarum for the first time to express hly gene of Listeria monocytogenes in order to propose a new vaccine candidate.