title: Identification of T cell epitopes on hepatitis B surface antigen.
abstract: The antigenic sites for human T lymphocytes on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have been studied using synthetic peptides. The results indicate that aminoacid residues 24-28 of HBsAg (located near the amino terminus of the HBsAg molecule) constitute an immunodominant "helper" determinant, whereas residues 17-18 and/or 34-36 represent a major "suppressor" epitope. However, non responsiveness to currently used hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines (employing the whole HBsAg molecule) does not depend, in the vast majority of cases, on suppressor T cells. In vivo experiments with synthetic peptide vaccines are needed to verify the possibility of enhancing the production of protective antibodies against the hepatitis B virus.
authors.affiliation: Unità Malattie Infettive, Ospedale A. Pugliese, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vento
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines