EXPRESSION OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS (FMDV) CAPSID PROTEIN VP1 IN CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF RECOMBINANT VACCINE

A chimeric construct of foot and mouth disease virus capsid protein VP1 was expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Integration of the foreign gene in nuclear genome of the algae was confirmed by PCR and expression of the recombinant protein was confirmed at translational level. Results showed that the foreign gene was integrated in nucleus and the recombinant protein was produced in the microalgal cells. Transformation process together with detection of recombinant protein are discussed.