Heterologous Expression of Shiga-Like Toxin Type 2 in Microgravity Condition

Gravity is an influential force on living organisms on earth, including microorganisms. E. coli O157: H7 causes complications such as bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans and immunization is the main way to fight it. Subunit B of Shiga-like toxin type 2 (STX2B), binding agent of bacterial toxin to target cells, is a candidate for the recombinant vaccine to prevent disease. Due to the quantitative and qualitative increase in the expression of some recombinant proteins under microgravity, the STX2B recombinant protein expression was examined under simulated microgravity conditions on clinostat device. After confirmation of the recombinant by immunological methods, its expression was performed under microgravity and after the protein purification by chromatographic column, its amount was measured. The results showed that despite the decrease in expression under microgravity, which was probably due to lack of proper aeration of the culture medium, recombinant protein was still produced under microgravity condition.