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Zachary Bradley
James MAdison University

Subject Listing - Biotechnology
Advisor: Dr. Ronald Raab

Thursday, Oral Session 2, Presentation 5, Karpen Hall 034

CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF THE YOP Q/K PROTEIN OF YERSINIA PESTIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RECOMBINANT VACCINE AGAINST THE PLAGUE

Bioterrorism is a threat in the world of today. The Plague, Yersinia pestis, is naturally occurring and is still present in animal reservoirs around the world, including the United States. The plague is readily available from these natural reservoirs and has been weaponized and used by countries in the past. There is currently a plague vaccine in clinical trials for the plague. The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) is studying other possible vaccine candidates that may prove more effective, and serve as an alternate vaccine. The Yop Q/K protein of the Yersinia pestis genome has been shown to be an important protein involved in the development of a systemic infection. Using recombinant DNA technology and the IMPACT-CN system of New England Biolabs, the Yop Q/K gene was cloned, expressed, and purified from E. coli. The end product of the research yielded a significant quantity of the full length Yop Q/K protein. The YopQ/K protein was sent to USAMRIID for further analysis, and will be tested in animal models for specific antibody production as part of an immune response to against a plague infection.

Advisor: Dr. Ronald Raab, Assistant Professor, Integrated Science and Technology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA