has role protective antigen role protective antigen Tick-borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV) protein TBEVgp1 polyprotein Series of plasmid constructs encoding different forms of the envelope glycoprotein E of the flavivirus tick-borne encephalitis virus were constructed. These included a secreted recombinant subviral particle, a secreted carboxyl-terminally truncated soluble homodimer, a nonsecreted full-length form, and an inefficiently secreted truncated form. Mice were immunized using both i.m. injection and Gene Gun-mediated application of plasmids. The functional immune response was evaluated by determining specific neutralizing and hemagglutination-inhibiting Ab activities and by challenging the mice with a lethal dose of the virus.The plasmid construct encoding a secreted subviral particle, which carries multiple copies of the protective Ag on its surface, was superior to the other constructs in terms of extent and functionality of the Ab response as well as protection against virus challenge [PubMed: 10586074]. Allen Xiang protein Oliver He Protegen ID: 661; NCBI Gene GI: 1489719; NCBI Protein GI: 9628432; NCBI Protein Accession: NP_043135; NCBITaxon: 11084