Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods

Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods Publisher Pubmed

Summary: Could a bacterial protein fight cervical cancer? Lab tests found CpsA-CpsC triggered apoptosis in HeLa cells; effects in patients remain unknown. #CervicalCancer #Biotechnology

Marzhoseyni Z ; Shayestehpour M ; Shaghaghi Z ; Alvandi M ; Esmaeili D

Source: Scientific Reports Published:2026

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in women, and the toxicity of conventional anticancer drugs has necessitated the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In the present study, we designed a fusion protein containing CpsA and CpsC proteins encoding capsular polysaccharides in Streptococcus agalactiae and evaluated its potential anticancer activity. Physicochemical properties, 3-dimensional (3D) structure, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were analyzed using in silico tools. Then, the recombinant gene was cloned, expressed in a bacterial host, and purified successfully. Finally, the anticancer effects of the CpsA-CpsC fusion protein on cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) were evaluated through MTT, Real-Time PCR, and flow cytometry techniques. Functional assays demonstrated that the CpsA–CpsC fusion protein exerted time- and dose-dependent cytotoxic effects on HeLa cells, with an IC50 value of 68.1 µg/mL at 48 after 48 h of treatment. Flow cytometric analysis using Annexin V/PI staining revealed a significant increase in apoptotic cell populations (17.5%). Furthermore, gene expression analysis revealed marked upregulation of the pro-apoptotic genes, Bax (22.62-fold) and Caspase-3 (22.06-fold), along with a downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2 (0.235-fold), supporting apoptosis as a potential mechanism of cell death. These findings suggest that the CpsA–CpsC fusion protein may exert apoptotic effects in cervical cancer cells and provide a basis for further investigation of bacterial-derived components as candidate anticancer agents. © The Author(s) 2026.

2. Cloning, Expression, and Assessment of Cytotoxic Effects of A-Ngr Fusion Protein, International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics (2018)

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Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods

Style	Citing Format
MLA	Marzhoseyni Z, et al.. "Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods." Scientific Reports, vol. 16, no. 1, 2026, pp. -.
APA	Marzhoseyni Z, Shayestehpour M, Shaghaghi Z, Alvandi M, Esmaeili D (2026). Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods. Scientific Reports, 16(1), -.
Chicago	Marzhoseyni Z, Shayestehpour M, Shaghaghi Z, Alvandi M, Esmaeili D. "Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods." Scientific Reports 16, no. 1 (2026): -.
Harvard	Marzhoseyni Z et al. (2026) 'Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods', Scientific Reports, 16(1), pp. -.
Vancouver	Marzhoseyni Z, Shayestehpour M, Shaghaghi Z, Alvandi M, Esmaeili D. Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods. Scientific Reports. 2026;16(1):-.
BibTex	@article{ author = {Marzhoseyni Z and Shayestehpour M and Shaghaghi Z and Alvandi M and Esmaeili D}, title = {Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {-}, year = {2026} }
RIS	TY - JOUR AU - Marzhoseyni Z AU - Shayestehpour M AU - Shaghaghi Z AU - Alvandi M AU - Esmaeili D TI - Streptococcus-Derived Cpsa–Cpsc Fusion Protein Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells Through in Silico and in Vitro Methods JO - Scientific Reports VL - 16 IS - 1 SP - EP - PY - 2026 ER -

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