Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019163 (hepatitis B)
38,309 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The conformational nature of the B cell epitopes on the hepadnavirus surface antigens makes its characterization difficult. Here, a new approach by DNA vaccination with plasmids expressing chimeric hepadnavirus surface antigens was explored to determine B cell epitopes on the surface antigens of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHsAg). A series of chimeric genes consisting of complementary fragments of WHsAg and hepatitis B virus surface antigens (HBsAg) was constructed. These plasmids expressed the following: (i) middle chimeric surface antigens (MCSAgs), including pre-S2 region and small surface antigens; (ii) small chimeric surface antigens (CSAgs); (iii) a mutated WHsAg with two amino acid substitutions, the Leu 136 to Thr and Ala 140 to Asp, within the central immunogenic region. The mutated region from amino acid 135 to 143 within WHsAg mimics the second loop of the HBsAg a-determinant. MCSAgs and CSAgs were expressed in transiently transfected mammalian cells and were reactive to anti-HBsAg and anti-WHsAg, as shown by indirect immunofluorescence staining and ELISA. Vaccination with plasmids encoding MCSAgs induced strong antibody responses to the pre-S2 region. Anti-pre-S2 antibodies were directed to a linear, immunodominant region within the amino-terminal region of the pre-S2 region and were able to precipitate serum WHsAg. Vaccinations with the plasmids expressing the CSAgs led to the conclusion that an extended region aa 116-169 of WHsAg, analogous to the HBsAg a-determinant, was sufficient for the induction of anti-WHsAg antibodies. The mutated WHsAg with the second loop of the HBsAg a-determinant efficiently induced anti-WHsAg antibodies, but also a low titer of anti-HBsAg. Thus, multiple B cell epitopes of a linear and conformational nature are present on WHsAg. We presented an efficient and broadly applicable strategy for analysis of complex immunogenic determinants of natural or mutated viral antigens.
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PMID:Characterization of complex B cell epitopes on woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigens by using plasmids encoding chimeric proteins and DNA immunization. 1200 76

The complete genomes were sequenced for ten hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains. Two of them, from Spain and Sweden, were most similar to genotype D, although encoding d specificity. Five of them were from Central America and belonged to genotype F. Two strains from Nicaragua and one from Los Angeles, USA, showed divergences of 3.1-4.1% within the small S gene from genotype F strains and were recognized previously as a divergent clade within genotype F. The complete genomes of the two genotype D strains were found to differ from published genotype D strains by 2.8-4.6%. Their S genes encoded Lys(122), Thr(127) and Lys(160), corresponding to the putative new subtype adw3 within this genotype, previously known to specify ayw2, ayw3 or, rarely, ayw4. The complete genomes of the three divergent strains diverged by 0.8-2.5% from each other, 7.2-10.2% from genotype F strains and 13.2-15.7% from other HBV strains. Since pairwise comparisons of 82 complete HBV genomes of intratypic and intertypic divergences ranged from 0.1 to 7.4% and 6.8 to 17.1%, respectively, the three sequenced strains should represent a new HBV genotype, for which the designation H is proposed. In the polymerase region, the three strains had 16 unique conserved amino acid residues not present in genotype F strains. So far, genotype H has been encountered in Nicaragua, Mexico and California. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genomes and subgenomes of the three strains showed them clustering with genotype F but forming a separate branch supported by 100% bootstrap. Being most similar to genotype F, known to be an Amerindian genotype, genotype H has most likely split off from genotype F within the New World.
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PMID:Genotype H: a new Amerindian genotype of hepatitis B virus revealed in Central America. 1212 70

The precore mutation G(1896)-->A occurs frequently in anti-HBe-positive carriers of HBsAg with T(1858) in the stem of the encapsidation signal. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype F, considered an Amerindian genotype, subdivides into two clades and the precore mutation occurs in Central American F strains. To investigate the relationship between substitutions at position 1858 and these clades, the precore and small S genes of 48 strains of HBV genotype F were subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Isolates of one clade, formed mainly of Central American strains, all had T(1858) and Thr(45) in the S gene, whereas in the other clade, formed mainly of South American strains and one strain from Polynesia, all had C(1858) and Leu(45). The latter strain was related to strains from Venezuela and Colombia, supporting an Amerindian contribution to the Polynesian population. The position of the Polynesian strain in the phylogenetic tree indicates that the two clades have resulted from an early split, showing a high degree of genetic stability of the stem of the HBsAg encapsidation signal.
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PMID:The T(1858) variant predisposing to the precore stop mutation correlates with one of two major genotype F hepatitis B virus clades. 1286 38

We selected for study a set of B44-supertype molecules collectively represented in >40% of the individuals in all major ethnicities (B*1801, B*4001, B*4002, B*4402, B*4403, and B*4501). The peptide-binding specificity of each molecule was characterized using single amino acid substitution analogues and nonredundant peptide libraries. In all cases, only peptide ligands with glutamic acid in position 2 were preferred. At the C terminus, each allele was associated with a unique but broad pattern of preferences, but all molecules tolerated hydrophobic/aliphatic (leucine, isoleucine, valine, methionine), aromatic (tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan), and small (alanine, glycine, threonine) residues. Secondary anchor motifs were also defined for all molecules. Together, these features were used to define a B44 supermotif and a novel algorithm for calculating degeneracy scores that can be used to predict B44-supertype degenerate binders. Approximately 90% of the peptides with a B44 supermotif degeneracy score of >10 bound at least three of the six B44-supertype molecules studied with high affinity. Finally, a number of peptides derived from hepatitis B and C viruses, HIV, and Plasmodium falciparum have been identified that have degenerate B44 supertype-binding capacity. Taken together, these findings have important implications for epitope-based approaches to vaccination, immunotherapy, and the monitoring of immune responses.
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PMID:Simultaneous prediction of binding capacity for multiple molecules of the HLA B44 supertype. 1463 8

The middle-sized (M) surface proteins of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other orthohepadnaviruses contain a conserved N-glycan in their pre-S2 domain, which is essential for the secretion of viral particles. Recently, we also found O-glycans in the pre-S2 domain of M protein from woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) and HBV genotype D. Since the O-glycosylation motif is not conserved in all genotypes of HBV, the glycosylation patterns of HBV genotypes A and C were analysed. Pre-S2 (glyco)peptides were released from HBV-carrier-derived HBV subviral particles by tryptic digestion, purified by reversed-phase HPLC and identified by amino acid and amino-terminal sequence analysis as well as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Pre-S2 N-glycans were characterized by anion-exchange chromatography, methylation analysis and on-target sequential exoglycosidase digestions in combination with MALDI-TOF-MS, demonstrating the presence of partially sialylated diantennary complex-type oligosaccharides in all genotypes examined. Pre-S2 O-glycans were characterized by on-target sequential exoglycosidase digestions in combination with MALDI-TOF-MS. The pre-S2 domain of M protein and, to a minor extent, of L (large) protein from HBV genotype C and D was partially O-glycosylated by Neu5Ac(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-3)GalNAcalpha- or Gal(beta1-3)GalNAcalpha-units at Thr-37 within a conserved sequence context. Genotype A, containing no Thr at position 37 or 38, was not O-glycosylated. Analytical data further revealed that M protein is mostly amino-terminally acetylated in all examined genotypes and that the terminal methionine is partially oxidized. The findings may be relevant for the secretion and the immunogenicity of HBV.
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PMID:Structure of pre-S2 N- and O-linked glycans in surface proteins from different genotypes of hepatitis B virus. 1521 90

The proline residue at position 306 in hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase (rtP306) has been suggested to constrain the conformation of the alpha-helices in the thumb subdomain that interacts with the viral DNA template-primer. To study the impact of residue rt306 in HBV replication further, 11 site-directed mutants were constructed that substituted rtP306 with different amino acids. The replicative competencies of these mutants were assayed by HepG2 cell transfection and real-time PCR. When rtP306 was substituted with glycine or threonine, the replication competency of these mutants was drastically reduced to 1.96 and 4.51% of the wild-type HBV level, respectively. When rtP306 was substituted with glutamic acid, the replicative competency of the mutant increased up to 9.4-fold compared with wild-type virus. The results also showed that changes in the replicative competency of these constructed mutants were not associated with functional changes of HBV enhancer I. These results indicate the importance of amino acid(s) at the interface between the thumb and palm subdomains in modulating the replicative competency of HBV isolates. This regulatory residue(s) could serve as a new target for the development of anti-HBV drugs.
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PMID:Substitution of proline 306 in the reverse transcriptase domain of hepatitis B virus regulates replication. 1560 34

In order to ascertain the molecular epidemiological features and mutational spectra of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Hanoi, Vietnam, direct sequencing of the 219-nucleotide fragment of the surface (S) gene of HBV from the sera of 40 patients mostly with chronic hepatitis were carried out. The samples were classified into genotypes by phylogenetic and genotype-specific analysis, and subtypes by the deduced amino acid sequences. The results showed that genotype B with ayw1 was predominant genotype/subtype (63%), followed by genotype C with adr (18%). The quasi-species nature of the HBV in the sera was observed in 24 of 40 samples examined. One sample (HN109) showed mixture of genotypes B and C. Among 26 amino acid substitutions, 16 were the variants and the remainders were mutations. In the "a" determinant region, three mutations with methionine to leucine (L) changes at the 133 amino acid residue were in the first loop and no mutations were in the second loop. A new mutation, threonine to methionine at 126 amino acid residue, was observed in one sample. In conclusion, the analysis of the S gene region of HBV showed that in Hanoi, genotype B with ayw1 was prevalent and the quasi-species nature of HBV was also common.
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PMID:Distribution of genotype/subtype and mutational spectra of the surface gene of hepatitis B virus circulating in Hanoi, Vietnam. 1583 87

Hepatitis E is an acute hepatitis casused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) in developing countries, where it occurs as cases sporadic and in epidemics form. The causative agent, hepatitis E virus, is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route. HEV is icosahedron non-enveloped virus, and its genome is a single-stranded, positive-sense, 3'-polyadenylated RNA about 7.5 kb in length. It contains three open reading frames (ORFs). Of which ORF1 codes for a polyprotein of 1693 amino acids and contain domains homologous to a viral methyltransferase, a papainlike cysteine protease, an RNA helicasre, and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, besides the most hypervariable region of the HEV genome. And ORF3 codes for a 123-amino-acide-long polypeptide with unknown function. While the major viral capsid protein (pORF2, ORF2 codes) of 660 amino acid was showed to contain the protective epitope. The bacterially expressed polypeptide disignated as NE2 has been proved to be a protective antige. And the anti-NE2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) was screend, two of these mAbs 8C11 and 8H3 were showed to be against separate conformational neutralization epitope of hepatitis E virus (HEV). And these two mAb were used to screen for binding peptides from a 7-peptides phage display library. After four rounds of panning, tweenty-one positive monoclonal phages (11 for 8C11, and 10 for 8H3) were selected and the inserted fragments were sequenced. The DNA sequence coding for the obtained dominant peptide 8C11 (N'-His-Pro-Thr-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ile-C', named 8C11A) and 8H3 (N'-Ser-Ile-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Pro-Tyr-C', named 8H3A) were then synthesized and cloned to insert between amino acid 78 to 83 of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), then expressed in E. coli. The recombinant proteins aggregate into homodimer or polymer on SDS-PAGE, and could bind with mAb 8C11 and 8H3 in Western blotting. Respectively, the recombinant protein C8C11A showed to be dimer mainly, which can bind with mAb 8C11. The monomer and dimer of C8H3A are in the same amount on SDS-PAGE, but only the dimer could bind with mAb 8H3 on Western blotting. The renatured recombinant proteins were all showed to aggregate into virus like particles which were similar as HBcAg on transmission electron micrograph. The dominant peptide 8H3A (N'-Ser-Ile-Leu-Pro-Tyr-ProTyr-C') that selected out by mAb 8H3 was further chemo-synthesized, and its binding activity was confirmed by BIAcore biosensor. The result showed that this 7-peptide can bind with mAb 8H3 in a big Ka and Kd form, which means the binding is not stable. These results implicated that conformational dependent neutralization epitope could be partially modeled by short peptide, which provided a feasible route for subunit vaccine development.
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PMID:[Selection of a peptide mimic the neutralization epitope of hepatitis E virus with phage peptide display technology]. 1597 79

Neutralizing monoclonal antibody (BX-182) directed against the d determinant of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen protected chimpanzees from infection by HBV subtype adw but not by subtype ayw, as demonstrated by intravenously inoculating a mixture of the antibody with the respective subtype of the virus. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the subtype-specific protection, a combinatorial approach of screening random peptide phage libraries, bioinformatics, and structure analysis was used in this study to identify the neutralization epitope responsible for the observed protection. The epitope was mapped at the N terminus of the pre-S1 region of the hepatitis B surface antigen between residues 17 and 21, of which the residues Val-18/Pro-19 were critical for antibody binding. Alignment of amino acid sequences derived from diverse genetic variants of HBV revealed that the epitope was present in ad subtypes and in their corresponding genotypes A, B, C, F, and H. By contrast, this epitope was not found in a majority of ay subtypes or in genotypes D, E, and G, where the antigenic residues Val-18/Pro-19 within the epitope were replaced by Thr/Ser, Thr/Thr, or Ala/Ser, respectively, resulting in a drastic conformational change of the epitope. These data indicate that, by binding discriminately to the subtype "d" epitope in the pre-S1 region, neutralizing antibody BX-182 protects chimpanzees from HBV infection in a subtype-specific manner, suggesting a potential escape mechanism for HBV genetic variants.
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PMID:Neutralization epitope responsible for the hepatitis B virus subtype-specific protection in chimpanzees. 1675 58

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been classified into eight genotypes, and several subgenotypes, distinctly distributed geographically. The genotypes A and D were previously reported to be predominant in India. Recent studies indicated evidence of circulation of genotype C in Eastern part of India. With the aim to confirm the phylogenetic relation and molecular genetic characteristics of the HBV circulating in Kolkata, the most populous city in Eastern India, 11 strains were isolated and the complete genome sequences were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis determined; three genotype C (adr-serotype) isolates closely related with C1 (Cs) subgenotype references from South East Asia, and three genotype A (adw2-serotype) isolates, related to Asia-variant references of subgenotype A1 (Aa). Whereas, five genotype D (ayw2, ayw3 serotype) isolates were highly divergent; one was related to subgenotype D1, two to subgenotype D3, and the remaining two clustered with a single genotype D isolate from Japan belonging to an unclassified subgenotype. Together, these two isolates differed from HBV D1-D4 subgenotypes by nucleotide differences ranging from 5.0 to 5.49%, probably indicating a new subgenotype, which we designate as D5. All serotype ayw3 of genotype D isolates had specific amino acid substitution Threonine at codon 118 and Methionine at codon 125 in antigenic determinant of surface gene that has not been reported previously in isolates from other parts of India. In conclusion; using the complete genome analyses this study has confirmed circulation of the genotype C in Eastern part of India and demonstrated considerable genotypic heterogeneity of the Indian genotype D.
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PMID:Phylogenetic relatedness and genetic diversity of hepatitis B virus isolates in Eastern India. 1684 57


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