title: Comparison of a bacteriophage-delivered DNA vaccine and a commercially available recombinant protein vaccine against hepatitis B.
abstract: A bacteriophage lambda DNA vaccine expressing the small surface antigen (HBsAg) of hepatitis B was compared with Engerix B, a commercially available vaccine based on the homologous recombinant protein (r-HBsAg). Rabbits (five per group) were vaccinated intramuscularly at weeks 0, 5 and 10. Antibody responses against r-HBsAg were measured by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, by limiting dilutions and by subtyping. Specific lymphocyte proliferation in vitro was also measured. After one vaccination, three of the five phage-vaccinated rabbits showed a strong antibody response, whereas no r-HBsAg-vaccinated animals responded. Following two vaccinations, all phage-vaccinated animals responded and antibody levels remained high throughout the experiment (220 days total). By 2 weeks after the second vaccination, antibody responses were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the phage-vaccinated group in all tests. After three vaccinations, one out of five r-HBsAg-vaccinated rabbit still failed to respond. The recognized correlate of protection against hepatitis B infection is an antibody response against the HBsAg antigen. When combined with the fact that phage vaccines are potentially cheap to produce and stable at a range of temperatures, the results presented here suggest that further studies into the use of phage vaccination against hepatitis B are warranted.
authors.affiliation: BigDNA Ltd, Wallace Building, Roslin BioCentre, Roslin, UK. jason.clark@bigdna.co.uk
authors.forename: Jason R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartley
authors.forename: Catherine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Jepson
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Craik
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: March
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000379:methods; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic