Hepatitis B is a global serious disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). There is no known cure for hepatitis B. The best way to deal with the disease is by preventing with hepatitis B vaccine. However, the current protein-based vaccines made up of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are ineffective in chronic HBV carriers and a significant number of the vaccinees do not mount the...

OBJECTIVE To determine the validity of the shake test for detecting freeze damage in aluminium-based, adsorbed, freeze-sensitive vaccines. METHODS A double-blind crossover design was used to compare the performance of the shake test conducted by trained health-care workers (HCWs) with that of phase contrast microscopy as a "gold standard". A total of 475 vials of 8 different types of World He...

Vaccination is the most effective and well-tolerated method of conferring long-term protection against hepatitis A and B viruses (HAV; HBV). Long-term studies are required to characterize the duration of protection and need for boosters. Following primary immunization of 150 and 157 healthy adults with 3-doses of combined hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccine (HAB; Twinrix™, GSK Vaccines, Belgium) at...

Immune-stimulating complexes (iscoms) have been prepared containing the major S gene products (HBsAg) of the hepatitis B virus genome. Immunization of BALB/c mice with a single dose of hepatitis B iscoms in saline resulted in a high titre antibody response to HBsAg. In contrast, the original HBsAg preparation required an adjuvant to produce equivalent amounts of antibody. Analysis of sera from ...

Several gene fusions have been constructed in which coding sequences for antigenic regions of the pre-S sequences of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis B surface antigen, and the envelope protein of human immunodeficiency virus were linked to the 3' end of that for the first 144 residues of hepatitis B core antigen. The sequences were expressed efficiently in Escherichia coli to give stable products ...

Y ou are probably familiar with the coding and billing process for the limited number of preventive vaccines that Medicare has traditionally covered under Part B (i.e., influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis B). With the advent of the new herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine and its coverage under Medicare Part D, this familiar routine has been interrupted. Here’s what you need to know to get pai...

Edible vaccines offer exciting possibilities for significantly reducing the burden of diseases like hepatitis and diarrhoea, particularly in developing world where storing and administering vaccines are the major problems. Edible vaccines are prepared by molecular farming using the science of genetic engineering. Selected genes are introduced into the plants. The transgenic plant is then induce...

To the editor: In a recent issue of Eurosurveillance, Betsch argued that vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) will prevent transmission of pathogens from HCWs to patients and that HCW vaccination should be encouraged by correcting skewed impressions of risk and by an appeal to altruistic or ‘pro-social’ motivation [1]. Using hepatitis B and influenza vaccines as examples, Betsch noted there...

In October 2011, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended hepatitis B vaccination for adults with diabetes in the United States (1). Serosurvey data from the 1999–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that noninstitutionalized adults aged $18 years with diabetes have an increased seroprevalence of past or current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection...

In October 2011, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended hepatitis B vaccination for adults with diabetes in the United States (1). Serosurvey data from the 1999–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that noninstitutionalized adults aged $18 years with diabetes have an increased seroprevalence of past or current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection...