[New approaches to obtaining vaccines for preventing serum hepatitis type B]

A comparative study of the antigenic and immunogenic properties of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and a glycopeptide containing protective antigenic determinant "a" (aAg) isolated from purified HBsAg structures was carried out. In contrast to HBsAg structures, aAg preparations contained no antigens of normal human serum. Anti-aAg antisera unlike immune sera against HBsAg contained no antibody against normal serum proteins. The aAg preparations were at least as immunogenic as HBsAg for laboratory animals. Inoculation of aAg-immunized mice with 125I-HBsAg resulted in no accumulation of the label in the kidneys whereas it was demonstrated in the animals immunized with HBsAg. The prospects of using minimal antigenic structures carrying protective antigenic determinants as split-HBV vaccines are discussed.