Isolation and cloning of the matrix ( M1) gene of Influenza virus

Influenza virus is a highly infectious member of the family orthomyxoviridae known worldwide due to its capability to cause pandemic influenza.Due to its high morbidity index and rate of spread a comprehensive vaccine that induce protection against different strains has been a research emphasis.For the development of an effective vaccine candidate the conserved areas within the genome should be targeted for the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens currently employed for the same suffers a high mutation rate.M1 protein appears to be a highly attractive antigen able to confer cross strain protection amongst various strains of Influenza.It has been earlier shown that the expression of the matrix M1 gene alone can result in the induction of VLP budding within cells.M1 protein thus can be efficiently utilised in even extension of immunity to multiple viral genera or even families provided using the molecular biology field co-expression of those proteins along with the M1 protein are successful in cells.This work is focused on the cloning of the matrix 1 gene within the prokaryotic DH5 alpha E.coli and generation of the Recombinant M1 protein which when purified, can be used for vaccine trials and the development of diagnostic tests