6533b81ffe1ef96bd127907b
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Behavior of a Short preS1 Epitope on the Surface of Hepatitis B Core Particles
Paul PumpensGalina BorisovaAndris DislersDace SkrastinaO BorschukovaElmars GrensVelta Osesubject
Hepatitis B virusAntigenicityRecombinant Fusion ProteinsGenetic VectorsMolecular Sequence DataClinical BiochemistryAntigen presentationmedicine.disease_causeBiochemistryEpitopeMicemedicineAnimalsHumansAmino Acid SequenceProtein PrecursorsMolecular BiologyPeptide sequenceHepatitis B virusAntigen PresentationMice Inbred BALB CHepatitis B Surface AntigensbiologyImmunodominant EpitopesChemistryImmunogenicityHepatitis B Core AntigensVirologyPolyclonal antibodiesbiology.proteinEpitopes B-LymphocyteFemaleRabbitsAntibodyPlasmidsdescription
The major immunodominant region of hepatitis B core particles is widely recognized as the most prospective target for the insertion of foreign epitopes, ensuring their maximal antigenicity and immunogenicity. This region was mapped around amino acid residues 79-81, which were shown by electron cryo-microscopy to be located on the tips of the spikes protruding from the surface of hepatitis B core shells. Here we tried to expose a model sequence, the short immunodominant hepatitis B preS1 epitope 31-DPAFR-35, onto the tip of the spike, with simultaneous deletion of varying stretches from the major immunodominant region of the HBc molecule. Accessibility to the monoclonal anti-preS1 antibody MA18/7 and specific immunogenicity of the preS1 epitope depended on the location and length of the deletion. While chimeras with deletions within the stretch 79-88 presented the preS1 epitope on their surface and demonstrated remarkable preS1 immunogenicity, the corresponding chimeras without any deletion or with a more prolonged deletion (79-93) were unable to provide such presentation and possessed a lower specific preS1 immunogenicity. Deletion of the stretch 79-81 was sufficient to avoid the intrinsic HBc immunogenicity of the core particles, although chimeras with deleted major immunodominant region retained their property to be recognized by human polyclonal or hyperimmune anti-HBc antibodies.
year | journal | country | edition | language |
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1999-05-01 | Biological Chemistry |