A MUTANT HUMAN HEPTITIS A VIRAL STRATH AND USES THEREOF

摘要

: This invention provides an isolated strain of Hepatitis B virus designated Human Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen-'S'133 Oon Strain (Methionine to Threonine) which constituent viral genome is deposited under Accession-Nos. P97121501, 10 P97121502 and P97121503 with the European Collection of Cell Culture on 151-h December 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 15 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 133 of such polypeptide is a threonine rather than a methionine. This invention also provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes a peptide, wherein the peptide is encoded 20 by a nucleic acid molecule comprising nucleotides 527 through 595 of SEQ. I.D. No. 1 and the purified peptide. This invention also provides various methods of using the disclosed isolated nucleic acid and peptides. This invention further provides various uses of the disclosed isolated nucleic acid, 25 polypeptides and peptides, and antibodies.