HIGH LEVEL EXPRESSION OF POLYPEPTIDE THAT CONTAINS MODIFIED PRES1 REGION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS LARGE ANTIGEN

摘要

The present invention relates to methods of producing recombinant molecules including the nucleotide sequence for the structure of the preS1 region of the surface glycoprotein of the hepatitis B virus, and to compositions of the molecules. Compositions of the recombinant molecules may include a promoter and a marker gene. Cloning vectors are used to incorporate the recombinant molecules into hosts. Cells infected with the chimeric vaccinia produce high levels of preS1 protein. Isolation and purification of the preS1-containing protein is facilitated by the use of a recombinant molecule in which the myristylation site has been deleted by a modification of the nucleotide sequence. The purified preS1-containing protein is useful for development of vaccines, diagnostic kits and therapies.