Expression of capsid proteins of serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus in insect cells

To construct the recombinant baculovirus expressing capsid proteins of serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV),a fusion gene of P1-2A and 3C of FMDV O/YS/CHA/05 strain was expressed from the constructed recombinant baculovirus rBV-P12A3C in Sf9 cells detected by indirect immunefluorescence assay.Western blot analyses showed that the expressed capsid protein was correctly cleavage by 3C proteinase.In addition,expression kinetics analysis showed that the expressed FMDV capsid proteins possessed good reactogenicity and the maximal expression of the capsid proteins in Sf9 cells occurred at the 4th day post infection with the recombinant baculovirus.The construction of the recombinant baculovirus would help to study the assembly of FMDV empty capsids in vitro and develop the serotype O FMDV empty capsid vaccine.