Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 9
Rational Design of Viral Protein
Structures with Predetermined
Immunological Properties
James Lara
†
and Yury Khudyakov
*
,†
Viral pathogens often stimulate the infected host to develop an immuno-
logic response to viral proteins as protection against infection. Researchers
have explored this human immune response in efforts to develop vac-
cines against viral infections, immunotherapeutics for the treatment of
diseases caused by these infections, and diagnostic reagents for the detec-
tion of current or past infections. The breadth of applications for viral
proteins in all three domains of medicine — diagnostics, prophylaxis,
and therapy — has spurred a significant demand for these products.
The three major sources of viral proteins for medical applications
are: 1) naturally infected persons, 2)
in vitro-
infected tissues and cell
cultures, and 3) recombinant DNA technology. Historically, in the
absence of any other reliable source, tissues from infected persons have
been used to support the development of vaccines and diagnostics.
1-11
One of the most well-known examples is the development of hepati-
tis B vaccine using hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen particles
derived from plasma from rejected blood donations.
9,12,13
Notable uses
*Corresponding author.
†
Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road
MS-A33, Atlanta, Georgia, 30333, USA.
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