Control of Hepatitus Virus Infections by New Methods.
Abstract
Studies were performed in a young adult population with an HBsAg/adw polypeptide vaccine prepared from native intact HBsAg particles. It was demonstrated that on a weight basis the polypeptide vaccine was superior to Heptavax-B in generating an antiHBs response, indicating that the critical antigenic determinants for inducing an antiHBs response are associated with the low-molecular-weight polypeptides of HBsAg. In addition to the excellent peak antibody response generated by the polypeptide vaccine, the production of anti-HBs in vaccinated individuals was very rapid after the initial immunization. This observation has ramifications for postexposure prophylactic vaccination and indicates that the polypeptide vaccine would be a good candidate for such usage. Several important immunochemical parameters were established: (1) Injection of mice with anti-idiotype antibodies prior to HBsAg inoculation enhanced the anti-HBs response. (2) Primarily IgM anti-HBs was produced if the anti-idiotype antibodies were administered in a soluble form. (3) The anti-HBs response was increased when anti-idiotype antibodies were given in conjugation with a cyclic synthetic HBsAg peptide. This anti-HBs response was comparable to a single injection of HBsAg. Additional data suggest the potential use of anti-idiotypes as immunopotentiators of the anti-HBs response. Keywords: Hepatitis B surface antigen; Synthetic peptides; Plasma derived vaccine; Posttransfusion hepatitis A.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA176694
Entities
People
- Joseph L. Melnick
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine