title: Anti-preS responses influence the anti-HBs response in newborns after vaccination with the third generation Sci-B-Vac vaccine.
abstract: We analysed the specificity and significance of the antibody response towards the linear preS1 sequence that has been shown to represent the "hepatocyte binding site" comprising amino acids preS1 (21-47) or the specific preS2 (131-140) antibody response to the "polymerised albumin receptor" in relation to the antibody response to hepatitis B surface antigen during immunisation of healthy children with the preS-containing Sci-B-Vac vaccine. Twenty-eight healthy newborns received three doses of the Sci-B-Vac vaccine according to a 0-, 1-, and 6-month scheme. Seventeen (61%) of the 28 newborns had detectable levels of anti-preS1 (21-47) antibodies and 14 (50%) were anti-preS2 (131-140) reactive at 6 and/or 9 months after initiation of the vaccination. The mean levels of anti-HBs were significantly higher in the anti-preS2 (131-140) non-reactive (24580+/-7815IU/l, mean+SEM) compared with the reactive sera (7287+/-2317IU/l, p<0.025). The highest anti-HBs levels were found in newborns who exhibited reactivity towards the aa 21-47 of the preS1 but lacked anti-preS2 (131-140) reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Uppsala County Council, Sweden. staffan.sylvan@lul.se
authors.forename: Staffan P E
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sylvan
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madalinski
authors.forename: Ulla B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Hellström
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D011498:Protein Precursors; C050806:presurface protein 1, hepatitis B surface antigen