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48‐mer synthetic peptide analogue of the hepatitis B virus “ a ” determinant induces an anti‐HBs antibody response after a single injection
Author(s) -
Moynihan Jennifer S.,
D'Mello Felicity I.M.,
Howard Colin R.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/1096-9071(200010)62:2<159::aid-jmv6>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - immunogen , epitope , hbsag , peptide , antibody , hepatitis b virus , virology , antigen , adjuvant , hepadnaviridae , chemistry , virus , peptide sequence , peptide synthesis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , immunology , monoclonal antibody , gene
An extended (48 amino acid) synthetic peptide analogue of the hepatitus B virus (HBV) S protein (HBsAg) ‘ a ’ determinant has been produced by using 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (fmoc) chemistry and a low substitution polystyrene resin as the solid phase support. This peptide (S121/48) elicited a sustained anti‐peptide antibody response in BALB/c (H‐2 d ) mice when immunised with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Cross‐reactive, anti‐HBs antibodies were induced, directed against a significant proportion of the conformationally restrained epitope repertoire on the native HBsAg particles. Similar responses were obtained by injection of guinea pigs, a species known both to be exquisitely sensitive to HBsAg and to produce a wide range of B cell responses to HBsAg antigens. Taken together, these data show for the first time, that a synthetic peptide mimicking conformational epitopes can be produced by chemical synthesis and can be used to induce significant titres of anti‐HBs antibodies after a single injection. This immunogen has considerable potential for incorporation into novel delivery systems, e.g., microspheres, thus offering the potential of a controlled release, single dose hepatitis B vaccine. J. Med. Virol. 62:159–166, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.