Gene Cloning and Expression of Outer Membrane Protein OmpU of Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio vulnificus is an important pathogen that causes the eel sepsis.In this study,the outer membrane protein U(ompU)gene of Vibrio vulnificus strain FJ03-X2is cloned,and then inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector,named pET32a-ompU.The plasmid was then transformed into E.coli strain to induce the expression of rompU protein.The soluble rompU protein can be expressed under the induction of IPTG(0.5mmol/ L)at 37℃for 4h.Then purified it by Ni-NTA His Binding affinity purification.SDS-PAGE displayed the purified rompU as a single band of the expected size.The purified rompU protein was then injected into SD level rats to produce polyclonal antibody.High specificity antiserum of FJ03-X2rompU is confirmed by ELISA detection.Western-blot confirmed that OmpU polyclonal antibodies can recognize the natural outer membrane protein OmpU in Vibrio vulnificus FJ03-X2.