Mapping of linear B-cell epitopes of hepatitis B surface antigen

Abstract

Eight monoclonal antibodies directed against the surface protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were tested using an epitope-mapping system (Pepscan) for characterizing antigenic domains. Four different amino acid sequences corresponding to linear epitopes were identified: one in pre-S1 corresponding to the sequence 29–36, two in pre-S2 corresponding to overlapping sequences 134–141 and 137–144, and one in the S region of the protein corresponding to the amino acid sequence 117–126.