SPATIAL STRUCTURE AND INSERTION CAPACITY OF IMMUNODOMINANT REGION OF HEPATITIS-B CORE ANTIGEN

Spatial and immunochemical elucidation of hepatitis B core antigen sug gested unique organization of its major immunodominant region (MIR) lo calized within the central part of molecule around amino acid residues 74-83. This superficial loop was recognized as the most prospective t arget for the insertion of foreign epitopes ensuring maximal antigenic ity and immunogenicity of the latter. MIR allowed a substantial capaci ty of insertions up to about 40 amino acid residues without loss of th e capsid-forming ability of core particles. Vector capacity as well as structural behavior and immunological fate of inserted epitopes were dependent on their primary structure. Special sets of display vectors with retained but cross-sectioned MIR as well as with uni- and bidirec tionally shortened MIR have been investigated.