The cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), which consists of five identical polypeptides and adopts a pentameric structure, has been shown to bind to the GM1-gangliosides at the cellular surface. Recombinant CTB has attracted much attention due to its non-toxicity and potential as a strong immunogenic antigen and immuno adjuvant for both system and mucosal immune responses. In this study, CTB was expressed in p~ÅÅÜ~êçãóÅÉë=ÅÉêÉîáëá~É and the resulting recombinant CTB was extensively characterized. PCR and back-transformation into bK=Åçäá confirmed the presence of the CTB gene-containing plasmid in the transformants and northern analysis showed the presence of the CTB-specific transcript. Western blot analysis of the yeast-derived protein extract showed the presence of CTB with mobility similar to purified CTB from sáÄêáç=ÅÜçäÉê~É suggesting that the expressed CTB assembled into the desired pentameric form. Quantitative ELISA revealed that the recombinant CTB comprised approximately 0.5~1.3% of the total cell-free extract. In addition, 0.5~2 mg of CTB protein per liter of cultured media was detected 1 day, at the earliest after cultivation. The GM1-ganglioside enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (GM1-ELISA) confirmed that the yeast-derived CTB bound specifically to the GM1-ganglioside receptor, indicating that it retained its native function and pentameric form, which is required for binding to intestinal epithelial cell membrane glycolipid receptors. In addition to the development of a yeast-derived edible vaccine against cholera, this study regarding the expression and assembly of recombinant CTB into biologically active oligomers in recombinant pK=ÅÉêÉîáëá~É enables the efficient production of a GRAS microorganism-based adjuvant, as well as the development of carriers for foreign vaccine molecules. © KSBB hÉóïçêÇëW=Vibrio choleraeI=ÅÜçäÉê~=íçñáå=_=ëìÄìåáíI=djNJbifp^I=Saccharomyces cerevisiae= = = = =