Provided herein are engineered hepatitis B virus (HBV) molecular vaccine constructs. Vaccine constructs can also include ligand-inducible engineered gene switch systems for modulating expression of heterologous genes, such as a cytokines, in host cells.

Provided herein are engineered hepatitis B virus (HBV) molecular vaccine constructs. Vaccine constructs can also include ligand-inducible engineered gene switch systems for modulating expression of heterologous genes, such as a cytokines, in host cells.

Chimeric genes, compositions of chimeric genes, and compositions of polypeptides that are useful for the generation, enhancement, or improvement of an immune response to a target antigen. Some embodiments of the compositions include chimeric genes encoding hepatitis D antigen (HDAg) protein in combination with one or more self-cleavage 2A polypeptides and a preS1 polypeptide. In certain embodiments the self-cleavage polypeptide is P2A.

Chimeric genes, compositions of chimeric genes, and compositions of polypeptides that are useful for the generation, enhancement, or improvement of an immune response to a target antigen. Some embodiments of the compositions include chimeric genes encoding hepatitis D antigen (HDAg) protein in combination with one or more self-cleavage 2A polypeptides and a preS1 polypeptide. In certain embodiments the self-cleavage polypeptide is P2A.

Embodiments described herein provide orthohepadnavirus capsid protein (Cp) heterodimers, bicistronic vectors encoding the heterodimers, and methods for producing the heterodimers. The heterodimers can be used to form mosaic virus-like particles. In certain embodiments, the heterodimers can form a hexamer, which in turn can be used to nucleate capsid formation, resulting in a Janus particle-like virus-like particle. The hexamer's can then be removed, leaving holey capsids. The capsids can be loaded with, for example, one or more polypeptides, small molecules, or a combination of polypeptides and small molecules. The holes of the holey capsids can be filled with another orthohepadnavirus heterodimer or a homodimer.

Embodiments described herein provide orthohepadnavirus capsid protein (Cp) heterodimers, bicistronic vectors encoding the heterodimers, and methods for producing the heterodimers. The heterodimers can be used to form mosaic virus-like particles. In certain embodiments, the heterodimers can form a hexamer, which in turn can be used to nucleate capsid formation, resulting in a Janus particle-like virus-like particle. The hexamer's can then be removed, leaving holey capsids. The capsids can be loaded with, for example, one or more polypeptides, small molecules, or a combination of polypeptides and small molecules. The holes of the holey capsids can be filled with another orthohepadnavirus heterodimer or a homodimer.

The technology described herein is directed to polypeptide systems using drug-controlled peptide docking domains and cognate docking domain-binding peptides and their use to control cellular signaling, activity, and/or gene expression.

The technology described herein is directed to polypeptide systems using drug-controlled peptide docking domains and cognate docking domain-binding peptides and their use to control cellular signaling, activity, and/or gene expression.

A Hepatitis E virus (HEV)-based virus like nanoparticle (HEVNP) made with a modified capsid protein containing at least a portion of open reading frame 2 (ORF2) protein conjugated with gold nanocluster is provided. Also provided are methods of targeted delivery of a nucleic acid using the HEVNP.

The present invention relates to an epitope specific to hepatitis B virus surface antigen and a binding molecule binding to the same for neutralizing hepatitis B virus. Since the epitope provided by the present invention is produced by forming a three-dimensional structure and does not comprise a determinant, by which escape mutation is induced against an administration of existing vaccines or HBIg, a composition comprising an antibody biding to the epitope or a vaccine composition comprising the epitope has a very low possibility of causing a decrease in efficacy due to escape mutation. Therefore, such an antibody or vaccine composition can be very effectively used in prevention and/or treatment of HBV.