Nucleic acid molecule encoding hepatitis B virus core protein and vaccine comprising the same
Provided herein are nucleic acid sequences that encode novel consensus amino acid sequence of HBV core protein, as well as genetic constructs/vectors and vaccines that express said protein sequences. Also provided herein are methods for generating an immune response against HBV using the nucleic acid sequences that are provided.
1. A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 1.
2. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 further comprising a signal peptide linked to the N terminus of SEQ ID NO: 2.
3. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 encoding one or more proteins selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:2; SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:6.
4. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 comprising one or more sequences selected from the group consisting of: a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and a nucleic acid sequence that is 99.0% identical to SEQ ID NO:1.
5. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 further comprising a signal peptide linked to the 5′ end of the nucleic acid sequence.
6. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 comprising one or more nucleotide sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1; SEQ ID NO:3; and SEQ ID NO:5.
7. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is a plasmid.
8. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 3 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is an expression vector, wherein said expression vector comprises a nucleic acid encoding one or more proteins selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 6.
9. A viral particle comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 .
10. A method of inducing an immune response against an HBV antigen in an individual comprising administering a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 to said individual.
11. A method of protecting an individual from HBV infection comprising administering a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 to said individual.
12. A method of treating an individual who has been diagnosed with HBV infection comprising administering a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 to said individual.
13. A protein consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1.
14. A protein selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:2; SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:6.
15. A method of inducing an immune response against an HBV antigen comprising administering a protein of claim 13 to an individual.
16. A method of protecting an individual from HBV infection comprising administering a protein of claim 13 to said individual.
17. A method of treating an individual who has been diagnosed with HBV infection comprising administering a protein of claim 13 to said individual.
18. A vaccine for generating an immune response against HBV in a subject comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 and an adjuvant molecule.
19. The vaccine of claim 18 , wherein said adjuvant molecule is IL-12, IL-15, IL-28, or RANTES.
20. A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one or more proteins selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 6.
21. A nucleic acid molecule comprising one or more nucleotide sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1; SEQ ID NO:3; and SEQ ID NO:5.