Smithkline Biologicals, S.a.

Armin J Merckelbach

Cornelis P Hollenberg

Zbigniew A Janowicz

Pierre Voet

Nigel Harford

Apolonia Rutgers

Teresa Cabezon

Martin Comberbach

Eric Jacobs

A composite particle comprising at least two polypeptides corresponding to all or part of a protein having the biological activity of one of the hepatitis B surface antigens, wherein the particle presents at least two antigenic determinants provided by the S-protein, preS2-protein or preS1-protein, said particle optionally further comprising host specific lipids. The invention also provides a modified hepatitis B surface antigen L protein which may be used alone or incorporated into such composite particles. A particular embodiment of the modified L protein (L*) comprises residues 12-52 followed by residues 133-145 followed by residues 175-400 of the L protein and a particular embodiment of a composite particle has the form (L*, S) where S is the S-protein of HBsAg. Improved hepatitis B vaccines may be prepared following expression of the above immunogens, especially in yeasts such as S. cerevisiae and Hansenula polymorpha.

Antigens and methods therefor

Growing community of inventors

Dusseldorf, Germany

Armin J Merckelbach