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Identification of immunodominant T cell epitopes of the hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid antigen

Academic Article
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Overview

authors

  • Ferrari, C.
  • Bertoletti, A.
  • Penna, A.
  • Cavalli, A.
  • Valli, A.
  • Missale, G.
  • Pilli, M.
  • Fowler, P.
  • Giuberti, T.
  • Chisari, Francis
  • Fiaccadori, F.

publication date

  • 1991

journal

  • Journal of Clinical Investigation  Journal

abstract

  • Several lines of experimental evidence suggest that inclusion of core sequences in the hepatitis B vaccine may represent a feasible strategy to increase the efficacy of the vaccination. In order to identify immunodominant core epitopes, peripheral blood T cells purified from 23 patients with acute hepatitis B and different HLA haplotypes were tested with a panel of 18 short synthetic peptides (15 to 20 amino acids [AA]) covering the entire core region. All patients except one showed a strong T cell proliferative response to a single immunodominant 20 amino acid sequence located within the aminoterminal half of the core molecule. Two additional important sequences were also identified at the aminoterminal end and within the carboxyterminal half of the core molecule. These sequences were able to induce significant levels of T cell proliferation in 69 and 73% of the patients studied, respectively. T cell response to these epitopes was HLA class II restricted. The observations that (a) polyclonal T cell lines produced by PBMC stimulation with native HBcAg were specifically reactive with the relevant peptides and that (b) polyclonal T cell lines produced with synthetic peptides could be restimulated with native HBcAg, provide evidence that AA sequences contained within the synthetic peptides represent real products of the intracellular processing of the native core molecule. In conclusion, the identification of immunodominant T cell epitopes within the core molecule provides the molecular basis for the design of alternative and hopefully more immunogenic vaccines.

subject areas

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Epitopes
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • T-Lymphocytes
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
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Research

keywords

  • ACUTE HEPATITIS
  • HELPER T-CELLS
  • HEPATITIS-B VACCINE
  • POLYCLONAL T-CELL LINES
  • SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES
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Identity

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0021-9738

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1172/jci115280

PubMed ID

  • 1711541
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Additional Document Info

start page

  • 214

end page

  • 222

volume

  • 88

issue

  • 1

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