Mosaic hepatitis B virus core particles presenting the complete preS sequence of the viral envelope on their surface.
The sequence of the preS domain of the hepatitis B virus (HBV, genotype D) envelope was inserted into the major immunodominant region (MIR) of the C-terminally truncated HBV core (HBc) protein. In Escherichia coli, the HBc-preS fusion protein was partially soluble and did not produce particles. Co-expression of the wild-type HBc as a helper protein along with the fusion protein led to the formation of mosaic HBc particles that exhibited HBc, preS1 and preS2 antigenicity. Two alternative combinations of medium- and high-copy plasmids were used for co-expression of fusion and helper proteins, in an attempt to improve mosaic particle production. However, the preS fusion content of the particles remained the same in both expression combinations. In a third co-expression in which the modified HBc helper lacked aa 76-85 in the MIR, the incorporation level of HBc-preS fusion into the particles was noticeably lower. Purified chimeric particles were immunogenic in mice.
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Andris
A
Kazaks
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Galina
G
Borisova
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Svetlana
S
Cvetkova
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Larisa
L
Kovalevska
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Velta
V
Ose
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Irina
I
Sominskaya
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Paul
P
Pumpens
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Dace
D
Skrastina
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1 Ratsupites Street, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
Andris
A
Dislers
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids; D015202:Protein Engineering; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C050806:presurface protein 1, hepatitis B surface antigen; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen