Secretion of particles of hepatitis B surface antigen from insect cells using a baculovirus vector.

The coding sequences of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen were inserted into a baculovirus transfer vector produced from Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) so that the foreign gene was under the control of the AcNPV polyhedrin promoter. Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with the derived recombinant baculovirus produced and secreted 22 nm particles containing the hepatitis B surface antigen. The particles had morphological and antigenic properties identical to those of 22 nm particles isolated from the plasma of chronic active hepatitis patients.