A recombinant human immunoglobulin with coherent avidity to hepatitis B virus surface antigens of various viral genotypes and clinical mutants

PLoS One. 2020 Aug 13;15(8):e0236704. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236704. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope is composed of a lipid bilayer and three glycoproteins, referred to as the large (L), middle (M), and small (S) hepatitis B virus surface antigens (HBsAg). S protein constitutes the major portion of the viral envelope and an even greater proportion of subviral particles (SVP) that circulate in the blood. Recombinant S proteins are currently used as a preventive vaccine, while plasma fractions isolated from vaccinated people, referred to as hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), are used for short-term prophylaxis. Here, we characterized a recombinant human IgG1 type anti-S antibody named Lenvervimab regarding its binding property to a variety of cloned S antigens. Immunochemical data showed an overall consistent avidity of the antibody to S antigens of most viral genotypes distributed worldwide. Further, antibody binding was not affected by the mutations in the antigenic 'a' determinant found in many clinical variants, including the immune escape mutant G145R. In addition, mutations in the S gene sequence that confer drug resistance to the viral polymerase did not interfere with the antibody binding. These results support for a preventive use of the antibody against HBV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigen-Antibody Reactions
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Genotype
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatitis B / pathology
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / metabolism
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / chemistry
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / genetics*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis B virus / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Recombinant Proteins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Basic Science Research Program Grant (#2018050379) of the Korea National Research Foundation (to B. Ahn) and by the collaborative research program of the Mogam Institute for Biomedical Research. G.U. Jeong was supported by the BK21 Plus program of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea.