title: Immunotherapy With the PreS-based Grass Pollen Allergy Vaccine BM32 Induces Antibody Responses Protecting Against Hepatitis B Infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have constructed and clinically evaluated a hypoallergenic vaccine for grass pollen allergy, BM32, which is based on fusion proteins consisting of peptides from the IgE binding sites of the major grass pollen allergens fused to preS (preS1+preS2), a domain of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) large envelope protein which mediates the viral attachment and entry. Aim of this study was the characterization of the HBV-specific immune response induced by vaccination of allergic patients with BM32 and the investigation of the vaccines' potential to protect against infection with HBV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatitis B-specific antibody and T cell responses of patients vaccinated with BM32 were studied using recombinant preS and synthetic overlapping peptides spanning the preS sequence. The specificities of the antibody responses were compared with those of patients with chronic HBV infection. Furthermore, the capacity of BM32-induced antibodies, to inhibit HBV infection was investigated using HepG2-hNTCP cell-based in vitro virus neutralization assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IgG antibodies from BM32-vaccinated but not of HBV-infected individuals recognized the sequence motif implicated in NTCP (sodium-taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide)-receptor interaction of the hepatitis B virus and inhibited HBV infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates that the recombinant hypoallergenic grass pollen allergy vaccine BM32 induces hepatitis B-specific immune responses which protect against hepatitis B virus infection in vitro.
authors: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Carolin
authors: C
authors: Cornelius
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Schöneweis
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Fanny
authors: F
authors: Georgi
authors: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Weber
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Verena
authors: V
authors: Niederberger
authors: Vienna Challenge Chamber, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Zieglmayer
authors: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Niespodziana
authors: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Trauner
authors: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Hofer
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre of Infectious Research (DZIF), TTU Hepatitis, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Urban
authors: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: rudolf.valenta@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Valenta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergy; B cell epitope-based allergy vaccine; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B surface protein; Virus neutralization; preS