title: Location and chemical synthesis of a pre-S gene coded immunodominant epitope of hepatitis B virus.
abstract: Immunodominant, disulfide-bond independent epitopes recognized by human antibodies to hepatitis B virus (HBV) are located within the 55-residue amino terminal portion (coded for by the pre-S region of HBV DNA) of minor HBV envelope components larger than the major protein constituents encoded by the S gene. A peptide having the sequence of the first 26 amino acids from the amino terminal methionine was synthesized and elicited antibodies (at dilutions of greater than or equal to 1 to 10(5) ) to the HBV envelope. These antibodies can be utilized for diagnostic tests. The immunogenicity of the peptide was substantially increased by covalent attachment to liposomes. The disulfide bond-independent determinants on sequences coded for by the pre-S gene may be more easily mimicked by peptide analogs than "conformational" determinants on the S-gene product.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D008081:Liposomes; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D008081:Liposomes; D010455:Peptides