title: Induction of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by hepatitis B virus epitope displayed on the virus-like particles of prawn nodavirus.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a deadly pathogen that has killed countless people worldwide. Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived HBV vaccines based upon hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is highly effective. However, the emergence of vaccine escape mutants due to mutations on the HBsAg and polymerase genes has produced a continuous need for the development of new HBV vaccines. In this study, the "a" determinant within HBsAg was displayed on the recombinant capsid protein of Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV), which can be purified easily in a single step through immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). The purified protein self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs) when observed under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Immunization of BALB/c mice with this chimeric protein induced specific antibodies against the "a" determinant. In addition, it induced significantly more natural killer and cytotoxic T cells, as well as an increase in interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secretion, which are vital for virus clearance. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that the MrNV capsid protein is a potential carrier for the HBV "a" determinant, which can be further extended to display other foreign epitopes. This paper is the first to report the application of MrNV VLPs as a novel platform to display foreign epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chean Yeah
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Swee Keong
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yeap
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zee Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kok Lian
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia wstan@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Wen Siang
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061505:Cell Surface Display Techniques; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D030381:Nodaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; D007371:Interferon-gamma