Immunization with a plasmid encoding a modified hepatitis B surface antigen carrying the receptor binding site for hepatocytes.
Intramuscular injection of a plasmid encoding a modified hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) induced humoral and cytotoxic responses in C57BL/6 mice. This modified HBsAg contains a preS1-derived peptide (amino acids 21 to 47), that carries the HBV receptor binding site for hepatocytes fused to the C-terminus of the small protein (at the position of amino acid 223). After a single DNA injection, the immunized mice elicited high titers of anti-HBs and anti-preS1 antibodies, and produced strong HBV specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses. The immune response induced after a single injection of this modified HBsAg gene in HBsAg-transgenic mice resulted in the clearance of circulating HBsAg and the appearance of anti-HBs and anti-preS1 antibodies. The high titers of preS1 antibody in transgenic mice were comparable to those found in non-transgenic controls and may be efficient to clear Dane particles existing in sera from chronic carriers. These data indicated that a genetic vaccine consisting of this modified HBsAg gene may have a potential use for both prophylactic and therapeutic purposes.
Hui
J
J
Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
Mancini
M
M
Li
G
G
Wang
Y
Y
Tiollais
P
P
Michel
M L
ML
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D019556:COS Cells; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010957:Plasmids; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C050806:presurface protein 1, hepatitis B surface antigen