Government of the Republic of Singapore

Government of Republic of Singapore

Ai Lin Leong

Wei Chen

Chong Jin Oon

Gek Keow Lim

Yi Zhao

The present invention provides an in vitro activity assay for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase, which comprises using, as the 5' oligonucleotide in PCR amplification of HBV DNA polymerase from a sample, an oligonucleotide into which has been incorporated the SP6 viral polymerase promoter, directly transcribing and translating the PCR products in the presence of a radio-labelled agent and measuring the priming of the HBV DNA polymerase. The present invention also provides the use of such an assay to assay activity of various serum samples, to screen for inhibitors of the HBV DNA polymerase and to test and/or screen potential anti-HBV drugs for their ability to inhibit DNA priming activity of human HBV DNA polymerase.

In vitro activity assay for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase, and its use for screening for inhibitors of HBV DNA polymerase

This invention provides an isolated strain of Hepatitis B virus designated Human Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen-'&#x15a;-145 Singapore Strain (Glycine to Arginine) which constituent viral genome is deposited under Accession Nos. P97121504, P97121505 and P97121506 with the European Collection of Cell Culture on 15th Dec. 1997. This invention also provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide which is a mutant major surface antigen of a strain of hepatitis B virus, such polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which differs from the amino acid sequence of a major surface antigen of a wild type hepatitis B virus in that the amino acid at position number 145 of such polypeptide is an arginine rather than a glycine, and the purified peptide. This invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes a peptide, wherein the peptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising nucleotides 527 through 595 of SEQ. ID. No. 1, and the purified peptide. This invention also provides various methods using the disclosed isolated nucleic acids and polypeptides. This invention also provides various uses of the viral strain and its proteins.

Vaccine-induced hepatitis B viral strain and uses thereof

The present invention provides an in vitro activity assay for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase, which comprises using, as the 5&prime; oligonucleotide in PCR amplification of HBV DNA polymerase from a sample, an oligonucleotide into which has been incorporated the SP6 viral polymerase promoter, directly transcribing and translating the PCR products in the presence of a radio-labelled agent and measuring the priming of the HBV DNA polymerase. The present invention also provides the use of such an assay to assay activity of various serum samples, to screen for inhibitors of the HBV DNA polymerase and to test and/or screen potential anti-HBV drugs for their ability to inhibit DNA priming activity of human HBV DNA polymerase.

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Ai Lin Leong