Expression of Recombinant Hepatitis B Virus Antigen Hbsag in Transgenic Plant Callus

The coding sequence of the surface antigen HBsAg of hepatitis B virus was cloned into a plant expression vector under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Cotyledons, hypocotyls and roots of lettuce cultivar Vitoria were transformed by cocultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harbouring the recombinant plasmid. Lettuce callus tissue grown on selective medium was analysed and the presence of the transgene confirmed by PCR. Expression of recombinant protein HbsAg was confirmed by Western Blot.