Genetically modified HBc polypeptides are provided.

Genetically modified HBc polypeptides are provided.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and discloses peptides, polypeptides, and polynucleotides that can be used to stimulate a CTL response against HBV infection. The peptide and/or proteins of the invention may be used as a therapeutic drug to stimulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate HBV infection in infected cells or as a vaccine for the prevention of disease.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and discloses peptides, polypeptides, and polynucleotides that can be used to stimulate a CTL response against HBV infection. The peptide and/or proteins of the invention may be used as a therapeutic drug to stimulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate HBV infection in infected cells or as a vaccine for the prevention of disease.

Disclosed is a highly sensitive assay method and assay kit for HBsAg, which do not require treatment with a strong acid or alkali in the sample pretreatment, and which is less susceptible to influences by the autoantibodies. The assay method for hepatitis B virus s antigen in a sample separated from a living body includes: a pretreatment step of mixing a sample with a pretreatment reagent containing a reducing agent, to reduce hepatitis B virus s antigen; and an immunoassay step of subjecting the pretreated sample to an immunoassay of hepatitis B virus s antigen using at least one antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof capable of antigen-antibody reaction with a reduced peptide composed of the amino acids at positions 98 to 179 of hepatitis B virus s antigen.

The present disclosure relates to a peptide comprising at least five amino acid residues, wherein at least one amino acid residue is modified to an epsilon-lysine, delta-ornithine, gamma-2,4-diaminobutyric acid, beta-2,3-diaminopropionic acid, with the peptide also comprising at least one non-epsilon lysine, non-delta-ornithine, non-gamma-2,4-diaminobutyric acid or non-beta-2,3-diaminopropionic acid, and wherein the peptide displays a reduced or no cytotoxicity when compared to an equivalent non-modified peptide. In a preferred embodiment, the modifications are to the melittin or mastoparan B peptides, and comprise the substitution of at least one a-lysine residue for an ε-lysine residue, and the modified peptides display antimicrobial activity. The present disclosure is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions, kits, ophthalmic preparations comprising the modified antimicrobial peptides and use of the modified antimicrobial peptides in methods of inhibiting growth of microorganisms, methods of managing microbial colonization, methods of treating proliferative disease, and methods of treating inflammation. The present disclosure also relates to a method of improving the therapeutic index (safety) of an isolated peptide comprising the aforementioned modification.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and discloses peptides, polypeptides, and polynucleotides that can be used to stimulate a CTL response against HBV infection. The peptide and/or proteins of the invention may be used as a therapeutic drug to stimulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate HBV infection in infected cells or as a vaccine for the prevention of disease.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and discloses peptides, polypeptides, and polynucleotides that can be used to stimulate a CTL response against HBV infection. The peptide and/or proteins of the invention may be used as a therapeutic drug to stimulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate HBV infection in infected cells or as a vaccine for the prevention of disease.

Provided is a hepatitis B treatment vaccine based on an inactivated whole recombinant Hansenula polymorpha cell which expresses HBsAg and HBcAg. An HBsAgVLP and an HBcAgVLP expressed in the recombinant Hansenula polymorpha cell are used as antigens, the amino acid sequence of the HBsAg expressed by the recombinant Hansenula polymorpha contains a total of 19 CTL epitopes, the amino acid sequence of the HBcAg expressed by the recombinant Hansenula polymorpha contains a total of 19 CTL epitopes, and the inactivated whole recombinant Hansenula polymorpha cell is used as an adjuvant.

Disclosed are a fusion peptide of CD4 helper T cell epitopes, a nucleic acid encoding the same and an immunogenic composition comprising the same. The epitope fusion peptide comprises a cytomegalovirus epitope and an influenza virus epitope. The epitope fusion peptide can substantially improve the level of cellular immune response to a target immunogen, particularly a weak immunogen, and is an effective means for overcoming the immune tolerance of immune system to an antigen, particularly to a tumor antigen or an infection-related antigen, and is suitable for efficiently enhancing the efficacy of vaccine.