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

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

Volume: 3 Issue: 3

Author(s): Scott Thomson, Oscar Haigh, Allan Gould and Robert Tindle

Affiliation:

Keywords: Hepatitis B surface antigen, vaccine, DNA, virus-like particle, cytotoxic T-cell, antibody

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 its 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.

Cite this article as:

Thomson Scott, Haigh Oscar, Gould Allan and Tindle Robert, Genetically Modified Hepatitis B Surface Antigen: A Powerful Vaccine Technology for the Delivery of Disease-Associated Foreign Antigens, Current Drug Therapy 2008; 3 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488508785747844