Hepatitis B Core Antigen Composition

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to hepatitis B core antigen (HB.sub.c Ag) and, more particularly, to a process for preparing hepatitis B core antigen in high yield and purity.

Hepatitis B is one of the types of viral hepatitis which results in a systemic infection with the principal pathologic changes occurring in the liver. This disease affects mainly adults and is maintained chiefly by transfer of infection from long term carriers of the virus. Usual methods of spread are by blood transfusion, contaminated needles and syringes, through skin breached by cuts or scratches, by unsterilized dental instruments as well as by saliva, veneral contact or exposure to aerosolized infected blood.

The incubation period of type B hepatitis is relatively long: from 6 weeks to 6 months may elapse between infection and the onset of clinical symptoms. The illness usually beings with fatigue and anorexia, sometimes accompanied by myalgia and abdominal discomfort. Later jaundice, dark urine, light stools and tender hepatomegaly may appear. In some cases, the onset may be rapid, with appearance of jaundice early in association with fever, chills, and leukocytosis. In other cases jaundice may never be recognized and the patient may be aware of a "flu-like" illness. It is estimated that the majority of hepatitis infections result in a mild, anicteric illness.

Serum obtained from patients with hepatitis B infections usually contains three distinct morphologic forms. The largest of these morphologic forms, a 42-nm to 45-nm double shelled spherical particle, often referred to as the Dane particle (HBV), is believed to be the virus of hepatitis B. The outer surface or envelope of the Dane particle (HB.sub.s Ag) surrounds a 27-nm inner core which does not react with antibody against HB.sub.s Ag and which contains a distinct antigen, the core antigen (HB.sub.c Ag). Antibody to HB.sub.c Ag appears after acute hepatitis B infection, and also can be demonstrated consistently in chronic carriers of HB.sub.s Ag. Highly sensitive techniques are not available for detection of the HB.sub.c Ag system. A deterrent to the more widespread use of such techniques, however, is the absence of a simple yet practical and effective method for obtaining HB.sub.c Ag. The methods proposed heretofore generally involve the use of selected plasma which contains exceptionally high amounts of Dane particles.

2. Objects of the Invention

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a practical and effective method for obtaining HB.sub.c Ag. Another object is to provide an improved method for concentrating and purifying HB.sub.c Ag. Still another object is to provide a method for obtaining HB.sub.c Ag from biological fluid found positive for HB.sub.s Ag rather than from selected high titer HB.sub.s Ag plasma. A further object is to provide immunogenic and therapeutic compositions containing HB.sub.c Ag. These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

HB.sub.c Ag is prepared by isolating Dane particles by isopycnic banding of biological fluid from human HB.sub.s Ag positive donors, optionally but preferably pelleting the Dane particles, and then removing the surface antigen by contacting the Dane particles with a nonionic surfactant having from about 15 to about 35 oxyethylene units in the presence of a reducing agent such as mercaptoethanol.

The starting material for the purified hepatitis B core antigen (HB.sub.c Ag) of the present invention is plasma obtained from donors positive to HB.sub.s Ag. The plasma is obtained in conventional manner, e.g., by plasmaphoresis. The level of HB.sub.s Ag may be measured in known manner by any suitable means, e.g., reversed passive hemagglutination or complement fixation. Optionally, the plasma may be cooled and the cryoprecipitate which forms is removed by light centrifugation. The Dane particles in the resulting plasma are isolated by isopycnic banding. The Dane particle-rich fraction is treated to remove Dane core antibody, preferably by pelleting, and then treated to remove the surface antigen and liberate the core antigen. Removal of the surface antigen is effected by contacting the Dane particle with a nonionic surfactant having from about 15 to about 35, preferably about 18 to about 33, oxyethylene units in the molecule in the presence of a mercaptan reducing agent, for example, mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, dithioerythritol, and dithiooctanoic acid. Suitable nonionic surfactants are oxyethylated alkyl phenols, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene acids, polyoxyethylene alcohols, polyoxyethylene oils and polyoxyethylene oxypropylene fatty acids. Some specific examples are the following:

alkylphenoxypolyethoxy (30) ethanol

polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate

polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate

polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate

polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan tristearate

polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate

polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate

polyoxyethylene (20) palmitate

polyoxyethylene (20) lauryl ether

polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether

polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether

polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether

polyoxyethylene (25) hydrogenated castor oil

polyoxyethylene (25) oxypropylene monostearate.

In isopycnic banding the partially purified concentrate is contacted with a liquid medium having a density gradient therein which includes the density of the specific antigen being isolated. The liquid medium is then subjected to ultracentrifugation to attain an equilibrium distribution of the serum components through the density gradient according to their individual densities. Successive fractions of the medium are displaced and those containing the desired antigen, i.e. the fractions having a density of from about 1.26 to about 1.30 g/cc, are separated. The concentrations of the solutions forming the gradient are selected so as to encompass the density range of from about 1.0 to about 1.41 g/cc. The liquid medium may be employed in the form of a linear gradient or a step gradient. Preferably it is employed in the form of a step gradient due to its inherently higher capacity for fractionation.

The liquid media used in the isopycnic banding step may be any density gradient in the appropriate ranges, e.g. sucrose, potassium bromide, cesium chloride, potassium tartrate, or sodium bromide. Sodium bromide is preferred.

The rotor of a centrifuge, Electronucleonics K is filled with 8,400 ml of phosphate buffer. After running the rotor up to 10,000 rpm to degas the system, the following step gradient is pumped into the bottom of the stationary rotor:

Plasma containing HB.sub.s Ag, 1,750 ml, is pumped into the top of the stationary rotor displacing 1,750 ml of 40% NaBr from the bottom of the rotor. The rotor is accelerated to 30,000 rpm and run at this speed for 4 hours. The rotor is then stopped and 1,750 ml of 40% NaBr are pumped into the bottom of the rotor forcing the plasma out the top. An additional 1,750 ml of fresh plasma containing HB.sub.s Ag are pumped into the top of the rotor displacing an equal volume of 40% NaBr out the bottom of the rotor. The rotor is then run at 30,000 rpm for 18 hours. After stopping the rotor 1,000 ml of Dane particle rich material in the 1.26-1.30 density region is collected.

The Dane particles (HBV) are separated from the NaBr zonal fraction in the following procedure. The zonal fraction (1000 ml) is diluted to 3000 ml using phosphate buffered saline. This material is then placed into twelve type 19 rotor plastic bottles (ea. 250 ml/bottle). The material is then centrifuged using a type 19 rotor (Beckman). The rotor is spun at 17,000 rpm (45,000.times.g) for 24 hours in order to pellet the Dane particles. The rotor is then stopped and the supernatant fluid from each bottle is decanted. The pellet material from all 12 bottles is recovered in a total volume of 5-7 ml of Tris-saline buffer and stored at -70.degree. C. This material is the Dane particle concentrate.

1 ml of concentrated Dane particles from part A is layered over 4 ml of 20% sucrose-1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in Tris buffer (pH 7.6) in a SW 65 rotor with 1/2.times.2" cellulose nitrate tubes. The particles are centrifuged at 35,000 rpms for 4 hours. Post centrifugation, the supernatant fluid is decanted and the pellet is gently resuspended in 0.5 ml of Tris buffer with 1% BSA using a cotton tipped swab (pre-moistened with buffer). The cotton swab is then rinsed with 0.5 ml of buffer. The final volume of Dane particle material is 1 ml. The Dane particles are stored at -70.degree. C.

The material from part B, 1 ml, is added to 1 ml of a 1% (v/v) solution of 2-mercaptoethanol in deionized water, and 1 ml of a 1% (v/v) solution of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate in deionized water. The resulting mixture is agitated gently and placed in a 37.degree. C. water bath. After 1 hour the mixture is diluted with TMN-1% BSA (a solution containing 0.08 M Tris, 0.008 M MgCl.sub.2 and 0.14 M NaCl, and 1% BSA) using a previously calculated quantity of diluent until it contains 32 IAHA units per ml. The solution is then dispensed into plastic 2 ml screw-cap serum tubes (0.5 ml/tube) and stored in a liquid nitrogen freezer.

To each of twelve 6 ml glass vials there are added 1 ml of purified Dane particles prepared as described in Example 1, 1 ml of a 1% (v/v) solution of 2-mercaptoethanol in deionized water, and 1 ml of a 1% (v/v) solution in deionized water of the materials listed below. The mixtures are agitated gently and placed in a 37.degree. water bath. After 1 hour the resulting mixtures are assayed for HB.sub.c Ag by the immune adherence hemagglutination assay.

The foregoing results show that nonionic surfactants containing 9 or 40 oxyethylene units are significantly inferior to those containing from 20 to 30 oxyethylene units while those without any oxyethylene units are almost totally ineffective.

To a first 1 ml sample of purified Dane particles from the same lot used in Example 2 there are added 1 ml of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, and 1 ml of 2-mercaptoethanol. A second 1 ml sample is treated similarly except substituting 1 ml of deionized water for the 2-mercaptoethanol. Each sample is mixed, incubated for 1 hour at 37.degree. and assayed for HB.sub.c Ag by the immune adherence hemagglutination assay. The second sample without 2-mercaptoethanol is found to contain less than half the amount of HB.sub.c Ag in the first sample.

HB.sub.c Ag as prepared in Example 1 is adsorbed on alum as follows. Ten ml of HB.sub.c Ag (Type Ad) containing 16-32 IA units/ml are mixed with 0.85 ml of 10% alum solution KAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2.12H.sub.2 O. While stirring 0.1 N NaOH is added slowly to adjust the pH to 6.8. Mixing is continued for 1 hour at room temperature. The solution is then centrifuged at 1500.times.g for 10 minutes. The supernate is decanted and the pellet is resuspended with saline solution to the original volume (10 mls). The solution is then mixed for 5-10 minutes prior to use as an antigen.

The procedure of Example 4 is employed except using 10 ml of HB.sub.c Ag (Type Ay).

Alum antigens prepared in Examples 4 and 5 are used to make high titer HB.sub.c Ab serums. The guinea pigs are divided into two groups which are used to produce the HB.sub.c Ab antiserum. The first group is administered intramuscular injections of 3 doses of 0.5 ml at monthly intervals of the product of Example 4. The second group is treated similarly with the product of Example 5. High titered hepatitis B antibody serums are produced in each group.

The HB.sub.c Ag obtained in Example 1 is purified by centrifugation on a 20-60% sucrose gradient at 200,000.times.g for 2.5 hours. The HB.sub.c Ag is then assayed to determine protein content.

The HB.sub.c Ag is diluted to 1 .mu.g/ml with 0.1 M carbonate buffer pH 9.7 for use in the ELISA assay.

The solid phase used in the assay is a 96 well, Cooke microtiter, U-bottom, polystyrene plate.

The enzyme-conjugate is alkaline phosphatase conjugated goat anti-human immunoglobulin (Engvall et al.).sup.1. Use level is determined by titration.

The enzyme substrate is 0.01% p-nitrophenyl phosphate in 0.1 M carbonate buffer pH 9.8, containing 0.001 M MgCl.sub.2.

The assay method is described by E. Nassau et al.sup.2. This method is used to detect HB.sub.c Ab in plasma and serum samples.

The final product of Example 1 is treated under aseptic conditions with 1:4000 formalin at 37.degree. C. for 72 hours. Excess formalin is then neutralized with sodium bisulfite. The core antigen is then adsorbed on alum by following the procedure of Example 4.

Individuals positive for HB.sub.c Ab and having an HB.sub.c Ab antibody titer (as measured by the immune adherence hemagglutination assay, IAHA) of 32 IAHA units/ml or greater are administered 1 ml (40 .mu.g) doses of vaccine intramuscularly. Additional injections are given 1 month and 3 months following the first injection. One week after the third injection the individuals are plasma-pheresed and HB.sub.c Ab titers are run on the individual plasma using the immune adherence hemagglutination assay. The majority of the individuals experience an increase in their HB.sub.c Ab titer compared to their initial titer. Those plasmas having an antibody titer of 2000 or higher are processed to yield gamma globulin having high HB.sub.c Ab titer.

The material from part B of Example 1, 1 ml, is added to 1 ml of a (v/v) solution of 2-mercaptoethanol in deionized water, and 1 ml of a 1% (v/v) solution of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate in deionized water. The resulting mixture is agitated gently and placed in a 37.degree. C. water bath. After 1 hour the mixture is diluted with SPGA using a previously calculated quantity of diluent until it contains 32 IAHA units per ml. The solution is then dispensed into plastic 2 ml screw-cap serum tubes (0.5 ml/tube) and stored in a liquid nitrogen freezer.