Comparison of Immune Response in Mice Immunized with Recombinant PreS۲/S-C۱۸-۲۷ Protein Derived from Hepatitis B Virus with Commercial Vaccine

Background & Objective: The vaccine available to prevent Hepatitis B virus disease is ineffective in ۵% of people due to the use of HBsAg as a weak immunogen. In the present study, PreS۲/S fused to C۱۸-۲۷ peptide fragment as an effective antigen and is proposed as a promising vaccine candidate compared with the conventional vaccine prescribed in the vaccination program.Methods: After the synthesis of PreS۲/S genes and C۱۸-۲۷ peptide fragment in pET۲۸a, the recombinant protein was confirmed by Western blotting. The efficacy of the PreS۲/S-C۱۸-۲۷ protein was compared with the conventional vaccine injected into five groups of rats. Finally, the cytokine level of IF-r, IL-۲, IL-۴, IL-۱۰, TNF-a, IgG۱, and IgG۲a were measured using the ELISA method.Results: This study showed no significant difference between the recombinant vaccine group and PBS control group in the IF-r test, but there was a significant difference between groups testing IL-۲ and IL-۱۰. In addition, the group receiving the recombinant vaccine with CPG adjuvant at a dilution of ۱/۱۰ in the IgG total test on days ۱۴ and ۴۵ after the first injection showed a significant difference in comparison with other groups.Conclusion: This study showed no statistically significant difference between the recombinant protein vaccine group and the conventional vaccine group. The Th۱- mediated immune responses obtained from recombinant proteins with and without CPG performed better than conventional vaccines, possibly due to the functional deficiency of the available vaccines.

Keywords:

CpG ۷۹۰۹ , Hepatitis B Core Antigen , Hepatitis B Vaccines , Hepatitis B virus , preS۲HBsAg