Cloning and Expression of Codon Optimized Minor Capsid Protein (L2) of Human Papilloma Virus type 16 in Pichia pastoris

Cancer of uterine cervix is a significant public health burden across the world. Mortality of women from cervical cancer is reported to be highest in developing countries. Prophylactic vaccine made of the Virus like particles (VLPs) of Human papilloma virus (HPV), though expensive, is effective in preventing onset of homologous infection in vaccinated women. Preparation of cross protective vaccine containing lesser number of recombinant proteins derived from various genotypes of HPV would help reduce the vaccine cost. We report the expression of codon optimized HPV 16 L2 in Pichia pastoris. The expression of HPV L2 protein was verified using RT-PCR and immunoblotting. This manuscript describes initial effort in expressing full length minor capsid protein L2 of HPV16 aimed at developing a broad spectrum prophylactic vaccine for cervical cancer.