Antibodies to synthetic peptides from the pre-S1 and pre-S2 regions of one subtype of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope protein recognize all HBV subtypes.

Immunodominant B and T cell epitopes have been demonstrated recently on the preS1 and PreS2 regions of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope protein. Synthetic peptide analogs corresponding to the preS2 region elicit virus-neutralizing antibodies and protect chimpanzees against HBV infection. Antibodies raised by immunization with peptides derived from the preS1 sequence block the site involved in HBV attachment to cell receptors, and are expected to be virus-neutralizing. Results presented here show that antisera raised against synthetic peptide analogs carrying the immunodominant epitope of the preS1 and preS2 sequence, respectively, and corresponding to two HBV subtypes, adw2 and ayw, each recognized preS1 and preS2 specific epitopes on all serological subtypes of the HBV envelope protein. Thus, the sequence variability within the preS1 and preS2 regions does not represent an impediment to the development of synthetic peptide or genetically engineered hepatitis B preS immunogens for worldwide immunization.