[Genetic vaccination. Perspectives for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B].
Genetic vaccination by intramuscular injection of a plasmid vector encoding the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) induces antibodies in mice that are specific for the hepatitis B virus envelope proteins. The antibody titres were very high and remained constant for more than 6 months after a single injection. Transgenic (Tg) mice that constitutively express the HBsAg in the liver were used as a model for hepatitis B virus chronic carriers. Intramuscular injection of a plasmid encoding the HBsAg in Tg mice resulted in the complete clearance of circulating HBsAg and in the long-term control of transgene mRNA expression in hepatocytes. Genetic vaccination appears therefore as a promising method for both prevention and treatment of hepatitis B.
Tiollais
P
P
Unité de recombinaison et expression génétique, Inserm U163, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. tiollais@pasteur.fr
Michel
M L
ML
D000818:Animals; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D014765:Viral Vaccines
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D014765:Viral Vaccines