title: Spatial structure and insertion capacity of immunodominant region of hepatitis B core antigen.
abstract: Spatial and immunochemical elucidation of hepatitis B core antigen suggested unique organization of its major immunodominant region (MIR) localized within the central part of molecule around amino acid residues 74-83. This superficial loop was recognized as the most prospective target for the insertion of foreign epitopes ensuring maximal antigenicity and immunogenicity of the latter. MIR allowed a substantial capacity of insertions up to about 40 amino acid residues without loss of the capsid-forming ability of core particles. Vector capacity as well as structural behavior and immunological fate of inserted epitopes were dependent on their primary structure. Special sets of display vectors with retained but cross-sectioned MIR as well as with uni- and bidirectionally shortened MIR have been investigated.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borisova
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Borschukova Wanst
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mezule
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skrastina
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petrovskis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dislers
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pumpens
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grens
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes