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Protective immunisation against hepatitis B with an internal antigen of the virus
Author(s) -
Murray Kenneth,
Bruce Sandra A.,
Wingfield Paul,
van Eerd Peer,
de Reus Arie,
Schellekens Huub
Publication year - 1987
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/jmv.1890230202
Subject(s) - hbcag , virology , antigen , epitope , virus , hepatitis b virus , immunity , biology , hepatitis b , immunology , hbsag , immune system
Preparations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBcAg) synthesised in Escherichia coli have been shown previously to confer partial immunity against infection by the virus Murray, Bruce, Hinnen, Wingfield, van Eerd, de Reus, and Schellekens: EMBO Journal 3: 645–450, 19841. In a further experiment reported here, immunisation of chimpanzees with a similar preparation of HBcAg that had been treated with sodium dodecyl sulphate in order to expose e antigen epitopes was found to protect one animal completely and another quite substantially upon challenge with the virus. The results are used to support the argument for trials in humans of a vaccine against HBV based upon or containing HBcAg and its e antigen derivative, and in discussion of a more general role for internal antigens in generating immunity against viral infection.