The demonstration of subtype (D or Y)-specific determinants on the surface of the presumed hepatitis B virus.

Dane particles isolated from the sera of HBsAg/ad and HBsAg/ay carriers were reacted with monospecific antibodies to the d and y subtype-specific determinants of HBsAg/. Dane particles from HBsAg/ad expressed the d determinant on their surfaces and those from HBsAg/ay sera contained the y specificity. Both complete (DNA-P and HBcAg) and defective (HBcAg alone) Dane particles expressed the subtype-specific determinants.     

Prevalence of HBsAg and HBsAg sub-types in the Canadian blood-donor population

After 8 years of screening all blood donations in Canada for HBsAg, first by CIEP and later by RIA, the prevalence of HBsAg in the regular panel of "repeat" donors has been reduced from 267/10(5) to 39/10(5). Marked geographic variations exist, but the available data do not indicate whether the high prevalence of HBsAg in young adults, particularly males, may be a factor. The ad : ay subtype ratio across Canada is 2.0, but noticeable geographic differences are present, varying from 3.5 in Quebec to 0.5 in the Atlantic Provinces.     

Immunochemistry of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg): preparation and characterization of antibodies to the constituent polypeptides.

The structural polypeptides of HBsAg were shown to be immunogenic in guinea pigs. Purified 22-nm forms of the ad and any subtypes of HBsAg were solubilized under reducing conditions and electrophoresed in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Individual polypeptides isolated from both HBsAg/ad and HBsAg/ay subtypes were used to hyperimmunize guinea pigs using Freund's complete adjuvant. All animals produced specific antibodies against native HBsAg as determined by complement fixation, passive hemagglutination, and double-antibody radioimmunoprecipitation assays. Each polypeptide contained within its structure the group-specific HBsAg determinant, a. Equilibrium competitive inhibition studies were conducted to determine the relative affinities of antisera produced against the major HBsAg polypeptides P-1, P-2, and P-6 (23,000, 29,000, and 72,000 daltons, respectively).     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae can release hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) particles into the medium by its secretory apparatus

We constructed a plasmid that directs the synthesis and secretion of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) particles by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This plasmid contains a proteinase-resistant HBsAg M (M-P31c) gene fused at its 5'-terminus with a chicken-lysozyme signal peptide (C-SIG) gene, which is placed under the yeast GLD (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenese gene) promoter. The products encoded by the C-SIG + M-P31c (LM-P31c) gene were synthesized and assembled themselves into HBsAg particles in yeast cells, and the particles were released into the medium along with poly-HSA (polymerized human serum albumin) binding activity. The HBsAg particles purified from the medium were very similar in density (1.19 g cm^–3), size (19.2±0.8 nm in diameter) and shape (sphere) to human-plasma-derived HBsAg particles. When several sec (temperature-sensitive secretion-defective) mutants were used as host cells, the release of HBsAg particles into the medium was blocked at 37°C but not at 25°C, indicating that the HBsAg particles are exported through the normal yeast secretion pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first report that yeast cells are capable of secreting particles into the medium. Correspondence to: S. Kuroda     

Characterization of the lipid and protein organization in HBsAg viral particles by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) particles, produced in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha, are 20 nm particles, composed of S surface viral proteins and host-derived lipids. Since the detailed structure of these particles is still missing, we further characterized them by fluorescence techniques. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy indicated that the particles are mainly monomeric, with about 70 S proteins per particle. The S proteins were characterized through the intrinsic fluorescence of their thirteen Trp residues. Fluorescence quenching and time-resolved fluorescence experiments suggest the presence of both low emissive embedded Trp residues and more emissive Trp residues at the surface of the HBsAg particles. The low emission of the embedded Trp residues is consistent with their close proximity in alpha-helices. Furthermore, S proteins exhibit restricted movement, as expected from their tight association with lipids. The lipid organization of the particles was studied using viscosity-sensitive DPH-based probes and environment sensitive 3-hydroxyflavone probes, and compared to lipid vesicles and low density lipoproteins (LDLs), taken as models. Like LDLs, the HBsAg particles were found to be composed of an ordered rigid lipid interface, probably organized as a phospholipid monolayer, and a more hydrophobic and fluid inner core, likely composed of triglycerides and free fatty acids. However, the lipid core of HBsAg particles was substantially more polar than the LDL one, probably due to its larger content in proteins and its lower content in sterols. Based on our data, we propose a structural model for HBsAg particles where the S proteins deeply penetrate into the lipid core.     

p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏病理学研究

目的观察p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏病理学改变.方法分别选取2、6、12、18、24月龄的SPF级p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠和p21+/+野生型小鼠,剖检进行大体观察,取肝脏及肝脏肿瘤组织,进行组织学HE染色及电镜超微结构观察.结果 p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏大体、光镜和电镜下均有明显病理改变.随着月龄的增加,肝脏色暗质硬,表面有结节和肿瘤形成;光镜下,肝细胞浊肿,炎症细胞浸润,脂肪变性,点状、灶状和碎屑状坏死,非典型增生,肝细胞癌.癌细胞分化良好,类似肝细胞,形成索状和腺泡状结构.癌细胞核深染,具核分裂像.电镜下,癌细胞核变形,核膜曲折凹陷,线粒体肿胀,数目增多,嵴减少.4例18月龄转基因小鼠发生肝细胞癌(4/10),6例24月龄的转基因小鼠发生肝细胞癌(6/10),其中2例发现远处转移.结论 p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏出现明显病理损害,18月龄小鼠开始发展成高分化的肝细胞癌,高龄小鼠形成的肝细胞癌能够转移.     

Hepatitis B surface antigen and its subtypes in an institution for the mentally retarded.

The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in 155 patients with Down''s syndrome (DS) and 209 with other types of mental retardation (OMR) at Huronia Regional Centre, Orillia, Ontario was 34.8 and 5.3%, respectively. There was no significant difference in prevalence between males and females in either group of patients. In 75 matched pairs (DS-OMR) the HBsAg prevalence was 45% in DS and 8.3% in OMR males; in females 40% of those with DS were HBsAg-positive, whereas all the OMR residents were negative. The prevalence of HBsAg in both DS and OMR groups was higher in those admitted in early childhood and in those who had resided in the institution for more than 10 years. In all 54 HBsAg-positive DS patients the antigen subtype was ad. Among the 11 HBsAg-positive OMR patients the subtype was ad in 10 cases and ay in 1.     

Antigenicity of the major polypeptides of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

The major polypeptides (P-1, P-2, and P-6) of HBsAg were isolated from purified preparations of 22-nm HBsAg particles, iodinated, and analyzed by double-antibody radioimmunoprecipitation assays for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific antigens. Each polypeptide fraction contained both group (a) and subtype (d) specific determinants in common by virtue of their immunoreaction with antiserum to native HBsAg and antisera to the other structural polypeptides. The antigenic and structural similarities of the HBsAg polypeptides establish that they are not each unique gene products of the HBV genome.     

p21~(HBsAg/HBsAg)转基因小鼠肝脏病理学研究

[目的]观察p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏病理学改变。[方法]分别选取2,6,12,18,24月龄的SPF级p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠和p21+/+野生型小鼠,剖检进行大体观察,取肝脏及肝脏肿瘤组织,进行组织学HE染色及电镜超微结构观察。[结果]p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏大体、光镜和电镜下均有的明显病理改变。随着月龄的增加,肝脏色暗质硬,表面有结节和肿瘤形成;光镜下,肝细胞浊肿,炎症细胞浸润,脂肪变性,点状、灶状和碎屑状坏死,非典型增生,肝细胞癌。癌细胞分化良好,类似肝细胞,形成索状和腺泡状结构。癌细胞核深染,具核分裂像。电镜下,癌细胞核变形,核膜曲折凹陷,线粒体肿胀,数目增多,脊减少。4例18月龄转基因小鼠发生肝细胞癌(4/10),6例24月龄的转基因小鼠发生肝细胞癌(6/10),其中2例发现远处转移;[结论]p21HBsAg/HBsAg转基因小鼠肝脏出现明显病理损害,18月龄小鼠开始发展成高分化的肝细胞癌,高龄小鼠形成的肝细胞癌能够转移。     

Use of baculovector for the expression of HBsAg gene in insect cells

Based on the information of molecular biology of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV), a recombinant transfer plasmid pAcMV was constructed by molecular procedures included using two synthetic localized probes, which provided an inserted position linked with BamHI sequences nearly at polyhedrin initiating ATG codon. Then an expression vector pAcMV-HBsAg was reconstructed, it contained HBsAg gene from subclone pYPSS-1 derived from adwserotype of HBV. The recombinant virus containing HBsAg gene was isolated and purified through 3 cycles plaques and hybridization experiment after cotransfection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with DNA of pAcMV-HBsAg and AcNPV. The expression of HBsAg gene in S. frugiperda cells infected with recombinant virus AcRV-HBsAg was identified by ELISA as haemagglutination tests. The yield of HBsAg excreted from S. frugiperda cells (an appropriate density usually between 1-2 X 10(6) cells/ml) after 48-72 h infected with AcRV-HBsAg was 4-8 mg/L. HBsAg harvested from the infected culture medium was shown immunoelectromicroscopy to be composed of spherical particles of about 22 nm diameter. Using this purified HBsAg, Bal b/c mice was immunized, the titer of anti-HBsAg serum measured measured by RIA was similar to that of purified HBsAg from human blood. Stable recombinant virus was isolated and could be shown to replicate in corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) larvae. All of these results can be expected that this expression vector system will be commercially developed to its fullest potential for diagnosis and vaccine HBsAg.     

一条新的柱层析纯化路径对HBsAg免疫原性的影响

摘要目的：建立一条新的毕赤酵母表达乙肝表面抗原（HepatitisBantigen,HBsAg）柱层析纯化方法,保持HBsAg结构完整性和提高免疫原性。方法：毕赤酵母发酵料液经过菌体破碎、聚乙二醇沉淀、疏水层析、超滤和凝胶分子筛精纯,收集HBsAg合格样品液适当稀释后加入铝佐荆吸附,制成乙肝疫苗半成品免疫BALB／c小鼠。结果：纯化产物经SDS-PAGE银染鉴定得单一条带,分子量在23kD左右,凝胶成像软件分析纯度超过95％;该纯化方法得到的HBsAg颗粒电镜观察得平均直径为22nm病毒样颗粒,结构较均一完整;自制疫苗免疫小鼠后,其血清抗体水平高于葛兰素史克生产的Engerix—B（安在时）,存在显著性差异（P〈0．05）。结论：通过该方法纯化的HBsAg结构完整性良好,疫苗免疫效果优于酵母表达的Engerix—B,纯化路径简单高效,易于放大用于工业化生产。     

Immunocytochemical investigation of hepatitis B virus-associated antigens in cases of liver cirrhosis and HBsAg antigenemia and their relationship to development of hepatocellular carcinoma

Summary Using light and ultrastructural immunoperoxidase techniques, we examined the distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated antigens and the subcellular localization of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in liver biopsies of HBsAg—positive patients with cirrhosis. The localization patterns of HBsAg in hepatocytes were membranous, cytoplasmic, festoon and inclusion body types. Cytoplasmic and festoon types were seen more often than the membranous type in pseudolobules, and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg)—positive cells with cytoplasmic type were distributed in the periphery of pseudolobules with active inflammation. Immunoelectron microscopy in the cytoplasmic or festoon type of HBsAg showed immunoreaction in the cisternae and on virus-like particles in the cisternae in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) antigenemia. Simultaneous staining of HBsAg and HBcAg revealed that hepatocytes with cytoplasmic or festoon type of HBsAg contained HBcAg—immunoreactivity. The inclusion body type of HBsAg was characteristic of liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); the subcellular localization of HBsAg was seen in clusters of the endoplasmic reticulum around the nucleus, and HBsAg—immunoreactivity was observed on many virus-like particles in most of the cisternae in those with HBeAg antigenemia. These findings suggest that the synthesis of HBsAg is active in patients with liver cirrhosis and that the formation of HBV is also active in those with HBeAg antigenemia and that HBV may be retained more in cirrhotic livers with hepatocellular carcinoma after proliferation than in those without it.     

Improved immunogenicity of HIV-1 epitopes in HBsAg chimeric DNA vaccine plasmids by structural mutations of HBsAg

To improve the immunogenicity of epitopes from the envelope protein of HIV-1, we have developed gene gun-delivered subunit DNA vaccines by inserting the sequences encoding the V3 region into the hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope gene, often called the surface antigen (HBsAg). We have examined the possibility of modifying the immune response to V3 by introducing modifications into the carrier HBsAg in gene gun DNA immunization of mice. In some plasmid constructions, the V3 sequence was introduced into the preS2 region of the HBsAg. Although this region is not present in all protein subunits of the HBsAg particles produced, abolishing the internal translational initiation site for the S protein had no effect on the immune response to V3. Expression of V3 at the N-terminal or C-terminal part of the HBsAg protein resulted in equal anti-V3 antibody and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses. However, elimination of secretion by single amino-acid mutations in the HBsAg decreased the anti-HBsAg antibody response but enhanced the anti-V3 antibody response. In contrast, the CTL response to V3 was independent of the structural mutations but could be improved by a total deletion of the HBsAg sequence part. Thus, the immune response to heterologous epitopes can be altered by modifications in the carrier HBsAg protein. Modifications of the HBsAg carrier might interfere with the dominant immune response to the HBsAg epitopes, allowing better antibody induction to less immunogenic foreign epitopes. However, for induction of CTL responses, the expression of minimal epitopes may be advantageous.     

Comparison of serum HBsAg quantitation by four immunoassays, and relationships of HBsAg level with HBV replication and HBV genotypes

Background

The decline in hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) may be an early predictor of the viral efficacy of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapy. The HBsAg levels obtained by different immunoassays now need comparing and the relationships between levels of HBsAg and HBV DNA alongside HBsAg and genotype must be evaluated.

Methodology/Principal Findings

HBsAg levels were compared among 80 patients using the Abbott Architect assay, a commercial immunoassay approved for HBsAg detection and quantitation, and three other assays derived from immunoassays approved for HBsAg detection (manufactured by Diasorin, Bio-Rad and Roche). Good correlation was found between the Abbot vs. Diasorin, Bio-Rad and Roche assays with narrow 95% limits of agreement and small mean differences: −0.06 to 0.11, −0.09 log₁₀ IU/mL; −0.57 to 0.64, −0.04 log₁₀ IU/mL; −0.09 to 0.45, −0.27 log₁₀ IU/mL, respectively. These agreements were not affected by genotypes A or D. HBsAg was weakly correlated with HBV DNA, whatever the HBsAg assay used: Abbott, ρ = 0.36 p = 0.001, Diasorin ρ = 0.34, p = 0.002; Bio-Rad ρ = 0.37, p<0.001; or Roche ρ = 0.41, p<0.001. This relationship between levels of HBsAg and HBV DNA seemed to depend on genotypes. Whereas HBsAg (Abbott assay) tended to correlate with HBV DNA for genotype A (ρ = 0.44, p = 0.02), no such correlation was significant for genotypes D (ρ = 0.29, p = 0.15).

Conclusion/Significance

The quantitation of HBsAg in routine clinical samples is comparable between the reference assay and the adapted assays with acceptable accuracy limits, low levels of variability and minimum discrepancy. While HBsAg quantitation is not affected by HBV genotype, the observed association between levels of HBsAg and HBV DNA seems genotype dependent.     

建立以TK基因为标记将外源基因导入臭曲霉（Asper—gillus...

A new system for selection of transformed Aspergillus foetidus was reported. In this system, TK- A. foetidus which were constructed by homologous recombination of mutated TK gene of vaccinia virus with TK gene of A. foetidus were screened by adding BUdR in agar plates. Conditions for screen of TK+ A. foetidus strain, transformation of A. foetidus and selection of transformed TK- A. foetidus have been studied. By using this system, several transformed A. foetidus which contained HBsAg gene derived bf a promoter H8 cloned from genomic DNA of A. foetidus were isolated. It was demonstrated that HBsAg gene was integrated into the chromosome DNA of A. foetidus by Southern blot after many passages of spores. ELISA showed that HBsAg was positive in the growth medium (p/n = 20). The 22 nm particles which were very similar to the HBsAg particles in human serum were found in the growth medium by immunoelectromicroscope. Western blot also gave the specific bands. All these data showed that HBsAg gene was expressed in A. foetidus and the products were secreted into the growth medium. The selection system using TK gene as marker could generally be used to study the expression of foreign gene in A. foetidus.     

胸腺素α原作为乙型肝炎表面抗原佐剂的研究

目的：研究胸腺素α原（ProTα）作为佐剂对重组乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg）诱导小鼠产生乙型肝炎表面抗体（抗-HBs）的影响。方法：以纯系BALB/c小鼠为免疫对象,分组情况为：①HBsAg组（1μgHBsAg）;②0.1μgProTα＋1μgHBsAg组;③0.5μgProTα＋1μgHBsAg组;④1μgProTα＋1μgHBsAg组;⑤铝佐剂组（1μgVacon疫苗）;⑥1μgPro-Tα＋1μgVacon疫苗组;每组10只小鼠,分别于0、2周各肌肉注射免疫1次。采用ELISA法检测血清抗-HBs滴度（即IgG亚类IgG1和IgG2a）。结果：与单独注射HBsAg组相比,1μgProTα＋1μgHBsAg组抗-HBs总抗体滴度明显增高（P〈0.05）,抗体持续时间更长,且ProTα可以平衡Th1和Th2免疫反应;2组间IgG1/IgG2a差异显著（P〈0.05）。与铝佐剂相比,ProTα增强了小鼠对HBsAg的反应性,提高抗-HBs阳转率。结论：ProTα在增强小鼠抗-HBs产生的同时,提高细胞免疫反应,提示ProTα是一种很有潜力的HBsAg佐剂。     

Amino acid substitutions at positions 122 and 145 of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) determine the antigenicity and immunogenicity of HBsAg and influence in vivo HBsAg clearance

A variety of amino acid substitutions, such as K122I and G145R, have been identified around or within the a determinant of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), impair HBsAg secretion and antibody binding, and may be responsible for immune escape in patients. In this study, we examined how different substitutions at amino acid positions 122 and 145 of HBsAg influence HBsAg expression, secretion, and recognition by anti-HBs antibodies. The results showed that the hydrophobicity, the presence of the phenyl group, and the charges in the side chain of the amino acid residues at position 145 reduced HBsAg secretion and impaired reactivity with anti-HBs antibodies. Only the substitution K122I at position 122 affected HBsAg secretion and recognition by anti-HBs antibodies. Genetic immunization in mice demonstrated that the priming of anti-HBs antibody response was strongly impaired by the substitutions K122I, G145R, and others, like G145I, G145W, and G145E. Mice preimmunized with wild-type HBsAg (wtHBsAg) or variant HBsAg (vtHBsAg) were challenged by hydrodynamic injection (HI) with a replication-competent hepatitis B virus (HBV) clone. HBsAg persisted in peripheral blood for at least 3 days after HI in mice preimmunized with vtHBsAg but was undetectable in mice preimmunized with wtHBsAg, indicating that vtHBsAgs fail to induce proper immune responses for efficient HBsAg clearance. In conclusion, the biochemical properties of amino acid residues at positions 122 and 145 of HBsAg have a major effect on antigenicity and immunogenicity. In addition, the presence of proper anti-HBs antibodies is indispensable for the neutralization and clearance of HBsAg during HBV infection.     

HBsAg空间结构与分子进化分析

目的:获得乙型肝炎表面抗原HBsAg的生物信息学资料。方法:从Genbank中获得HBsAg的核酸序列,用ExPaSy、EBI和NCBI网站的在线软件推导其编码氨基酸序列、理化性质、空间结构,并在Blastn比对后选择不同地理株进行分子进化进行分析。结果:HBsAg由226个氨基酸组成,分子量25777．6Da,等电点8．74,为亲水性蛋白质;信号肽位于1-29aa处,二级结构由-螺旋(18．14%)、延伸(25．66%)、随机线圈(56．19%)组成。中国与日本、冈比亚、德国、西班牙、墨西哥、荷兰、瑞典、泰国的HBsAg相似率依次为99%、94%、94%、94%、91%、89%、98%、98%、98%．。用不同地理株HBsAg核酸序列构建出的分子进化树中,中国和日本的聚成一簇。结论:通过对HBsAg的生物信息学分析获得该抗原特征,为进一步研究乙型肝炎的感染与发病机制、研制基因工程疫苗以及研究HBsAg新的功能域等提供依据。     

Negative Interference in Serum HBsAg ELISA from Rheumatoid Factors

Background

RF(Rheumatoid factor) is usually thought to cause positive interference in immunoassay. Recently, our study showed that high-concentration RFs caused negative interference as well as positive interference in serum HBsAg(Hepatitis B surface antigen) ELISA(Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), but it is unclear that RF causing negative interference is an anomaly produced by a certain ELISA kit or a common property of most of HBsAg ELISA kits.

Methods

Serum models were made by blending HBsAg-positive sera and high- or moderate-concentration RFs sera at the ratio of 1: 9, then one-step and two-step ELISA were adopted to determine HBsAg in serum models.

Results

No matter what kind of kit used, one-step ELISA showed that HBsAg S/CO( sample/cut off) values in serum models were significantly lower than original values. Bivariate correlations tests showed decline rates of HBsAg S/CO Values were not associated to serum RF concentrations ranging from 288 to 3560 IU/mL. HBsAg converted to be negative in 69.80% serum models with original-value ranging from 1.00 to 10.00, and in 2.68% serum models with higher original-value. RF causing decline of HBsAg S/CO value provided by one-step ELISA was more obvious than that provided by two-step ELISA.

Conclusions

It is concluded that susceptibility of all HBsAg ELISA assays to interference from RF, leading to predominantly lower and in some cases "false-negative" results, and moreover, the lower the original HBsAg S/CO Value, the higher the false-negative rate.