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Mutations that change the immunological subtype of hepatitis b virus surface antigen and distinguish between antigenic and immunogenic determination
Author(s) -
AshtonRickardt Philip G.,
Murray Kenneth
Publication year - 1989
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.1890290311
Subject(s) - hbsag , virology , antigen , hepatitis b virus , biology , epitope , virus , antibody , mutation , tyrosine , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , genetics , gene , biochemistry
The molecular basis of the d or y immunological subtype of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) has been investigated by mutation of specific amino acid residues. When combined with substitution of serine 113 by threonine, replacement of arginine 122 by Iysine or of tyrosine 134 by phenylalanine, or both of these changes, altered the antigenic subtype of HBsAg from y + d – to y + d + . These same mutations had a more dramatic effect on the subtype of antibodies induced by the antigens, a combination of all three mutations completely changing the subtype from y to d . Our study thus identifies residues in HBsAg that not only affect the subtype but discriminate between changes in antigenic and immunogenic behaviour. It also shows how the y and d subtypes may be manifest by the same molecule.