Genetically engineered diphtheria toxin fusion proteins carrying the hepatitis B surface antigen.
Tripartite fusion proteins comprising the nontoxic mutant protein CRM228 of diphtheria toxin (DT), the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), and beta-galactosidase were obtained by expression of hybrid genes from the pR promoter of bacteriophage lambda and purification by affinity chromatography. The antigenicity and immunogenicity of the individual protein constituents were analyzed. A major neutralizing epitope of DT was inactivated by the HBsAg insertion into the DT B fragment. The fusion proteins elicited antibodies reactive with 22 nm HBsAg particles. This suggests a novel approach towards the use of DT mutants as immunogenic carriers of heterologous antigens.
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005813:Genes, Synthetic; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase