Comparative immunogenicity in children of mammalian cell-derived recombinant hepatitis B vaccine and plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine.

Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine were given at 2, 4 and 9 months of age to 220 Senegalese infants living in the Dakar area of Senegal. Half of the infants received 5 micrograms plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine (Hevac B) and the remainder 20 micrograms mammalian cell-derived recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (GenHevac B). Both vaccines contain S and pre-S2 encoded proteins; however, the recombinant vaccine had a much higher pre-S2 content than the plasma-derived vaccine.

Simultaneous injection of hepatitis B vaccine with BCG and killed poliovirus vaccine.

In most developing countries, hepatitis B virus is endemic and prevention has to be carried out early in life and on a mass scale. In these regions, simultaneous administration of multiple antigens is normal practice. We have therefore investigated the interaction of hepatitis B vaccine with BCG and inactivated polio vaccine.

Mapping of linear B-cell epitopes of hepatitis B surface antigen.

Eight monoclonal antibodies directed against the surface protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were tested using an epitope-mapping system (Pepscan) for characterizing antigenic domains. Four different amino acid sequences corresponding to linear epitopes were identified: one in pre-S1 corresponding to the sequence 29-36, two in pre-S2 corresponding to overlapping sequences 134-141 and 137-144, and one in the S region of the protein corresponding to the amino acid sequence 117-126.

Antibody response to preS1 in hepatitis-B-virus-induced liver disease and after immunization.

Antibodies to the pre-S1-encoded sequence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope were detected by ELISA using a synthetic peptide analogue of preS1 proteins, in different groups of HBV-infected subjects and also in hepatitis B vaccine recipients. Such antibodies were specifically found in only 1% of HBsAg chronic carriers including patients with cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. Anti-preS1 were detected in patients with acute hepatitis; in 13% of the HBsAg+ sera obtained before recovery and in 37% of the sera obtained after recovery.