Induction of strong and specific humoral and T-helper 1 cellular responses by HBsAg entrapped in the Methanobrevibacter smithii archaeosomes

Application of adjuvants with microbial origins is a recently highlighted approach in the vaccinology trials. Archaeosomes are among these microbial compounds with both adjuvant and liposomal activities and features. In the present study, recombinant HBsAg encapsulated into Methanobrevibacter smithii [M. smithii] archaeosomes. Balb/c mice immunized with this compound and humoral and cytokine secretion pattern of immunized models analyzed. Frequency of IFN-gamma secreting cells in the HBsAg-containing archaeosomes group was significantly higher than HBsAg and HBsAg+C/IFA groups [p

Detection of rtN236T mutation associated with adefovir dipivoxil resistance in hepatitis B infected patients with YMDD mutations in Tehran

The risk of adefovir dipivoxil resistance emergence has increased in lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B infected patients. The mutations known as causing adefovir resistance, rtN236T and rtA181V/T, are detected within the D and B functional domain of the HBV polymerase, respectively. In this study, we intended to determine the pre-existing adefovir-resistance mutations in patients infected with LAM resistant mutants prior to starting adefovir therapy. The study included 30 patients with chronic hepatitis B with lamivudine resistance mutations in the YMDD motif that experienced viral breakthrough. After alignment of protein coding sequences, the rtN236T mutation was observed in two [6.6%] patients, while twenty-eight others had neither rtN236T, nor rtA181V/T mutation. All 30 patients were infected with genotype D of hepatitis B virus. The early detection ofLAM-resistance mutations may allow a timely chance of therapy to avoid hepatitis flare- up. This data suggests that monitoring of ADV-resistance mutations in ADV naive patients can be considered in selecting the appropriate anti-viral regimen