Genetically Modified Hepatitis B Surface Antigen: A Powerful Vaccine Technology for the Delivery of Disease-Associated Foreign Antigens

Publisher： Bentham Science Publishers

E-ISSN： 2212-3903|3|3|226-234

ISSN： 1574-8855

Source： Current Drug Therapy, Vol.3, Iss.3, 2008-09, pp. : 226-234

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Abstract

The surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) spontaneously aggregates into ‘empty’ virus-like particles (VLPs) in the absence of other viral components. The powerful immunogenicity of HBsAg when administered either as VLPs or as naked DNA invites it's exploitation as a vector for the delivery of antigenic determinants from other organisms. Here we discuss ways in which HBsAg may be modified to derive vaccines against disease-related pathogens. We review studies demonstrating the induction of disease-protective antibody and T-cell responses induced by immunization with recombinant HBsAg vaccines, and consider how these vaccines might best be delivered. Unmodified HBsAg VLPs are licensed for use in humans as the pan-global vaccine to prevent hepatitis B virus infection, suggesting that route-tomarket for recombinant HBsAg vaccines might be simplified.