乙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白作为表位疫苗载体的应用

Hepatitis B virus core protein as an epitope vaccine carrier: a review

摘要:

乙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白 (Hepatitis B virus core protein，HBc) 可以形成二十面体对称的颗粒样结构，由于其N端、C端和主要免疫显性区域 (Major immunodominant region，MIR) 允许一定程度的缺失和外源插入，并且能够将外源序列重复且高密度地暴露在颗粒的表面，诱发强烈的外源序列特异的体液和细胞免疫反应，从上世纪80年代中期就开始被运用于表位疫苗的研究。以下主要从影响HBc作为表位疫苗载体的因素，包括HBc长度、外源插入位点和表位序列的性质等来介绍HBc作为表位疫苗载体的应用。

Abstract:

Hepatitis B virus core (HBc) proteins have been used as carrier for foreign epitopes since the 1980s. They could self-assemble into icosahedral particles. Foreign epitopes could be inserted into HBc protein in various protein regions, including the N- or C-terminal and the major immunodominant region (MIR). The factors relevant in the design of HBc particles for vaccine purpose are summarized in this review.