Synthetic hepatitis B surface antigen peptide vaccine.
A synthetic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) peptide was prepared containing amino acid residues 122-137 of the major HBsAg polypeptide. This peptide was cyclized by the introduction of an intrachain disulfide bond between cysteine residues at positions 124 and 137 because previous studies had shown that intact disulfide bonds are critical for maintenance of HBsAg activity. An anti-HBs response was produced in mice by free peptide entrapped in liposomes. However, the immunogenicity was enhanced by aggregation into micelles, and by coupling to tetanus toxoid. Analysis of the peptide with a panel of monoclonal antibodies showed that peptide 122-137 contained a conformation (discontinuous) group a epitope and a sequential (continuous) subgroup y epitope. In addition, the cyclic peptide inhibited a human anti-HBs idiotype-anti-idiotype reaction with specificity for group a determinant(s). The potential for synthetic peptides for hepatitis B virus vaccine development is discussed.
G R
GR
Dreesman
J T
JT
Sparrow
P J
PJ
Frenchick
R C
RC
Kennedy
D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology; D012995:Solubility; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D014765:Viral Vaccines