Use of hepadnavirus core proteins as vaccine platforms.
The first virus-like particle to be tested for use as a vaccine carrier was based on the hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid protein. This viral subunit, while not infectious on its own, is a 36-nm particle that is highly immunogenic during a natural infection. The self-assembly and high degree of immunogenicity is maintained when expressed as a recombinant protein and, moreover, can confer a high degree of immunogenicity on foreign antigens linked to the particle, either chemically or genetically. This review describes the current state of the hepadnaviral core protein as a vaccine carrier.
Whitacre
David C
DC
Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. dwhitacre@vrisd.org
Lee
Byung O
BO
Milich
David R
DR
D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics; D022721:Vaccines, Virosome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D022721:Vaccines, Virosome