Immunogenicity of Wild Type and Mutant Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Virus-like Particles (VLPs) in Mice with Pre-Existing Immunity against the Wild Type Vector.

ABSTRACT: Virus-like particles (VLPs), composed of the small hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAgS), are the antigenic components of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine and represent the backbones for a chimeric anti-malaria vaccine and various vaccine candidates. Biological vectors have to face pre-existing anti-vector immune responses due to previous immune exposure. Vector recognition after natural infections or vaccinations can result in unwarranted outcomes, with compromising effects on clinical outcomes. In order to evaluate the impact of a pre-existing anti-HBsAgS immune response, we developed mutant VLPs composed of subunits with reduced HBsAgS-specific antigenicity. The insertion of a Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-derived epitope as a read-out allowed the a

SUBMITTER: Kingston NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9963944 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature