Massa, S.S.MassaFranconi, R.R.FranconiBrandi, R.R.BrandiMuller, A.A.MullerMett, V.V.MettYusibov, V.V.YusibovVenuti, A.A.Venuti2022-03-042022-03-042007https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/21514110.1016/j.vaccine.2007.01.018The E7 oncoprotein from Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is an attractive candidate for anti-cancer vaccine development. In this study, we engineered HPV16 E7 coding sequence (wild type or mutagenized sequence, E7GGG) as fusions to -1,3-1,4-glucanase (LicKM) of Clostridium thermocellum and produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using a transient expression system. Target antigens were purified and evaluated in mice for their potential as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine candidates. Both fusion proteins induced E7-specific IgG and cytotoxic T-cell responses and protected mice against challenge with E7-expressing tumor cells. Furthermore, when administered after challenge, these plant-produced antigens prevented tumor development.en540616journal article