Recombinant vaccinia virus LC16m0 or LC16m8 that expresses hepatitis B surface antigen while preserving the attenuation of the parental virus strain.

Thymidine kinase-negative recombinant vaccinia virus LC16m0 or LC16m8 expressing hepatitis B surface antigen preserved almost the same pathogenicity as their parental thymidine kinase-positive attenuated virus strains. The results demonstrate the potential for using the LC16m0 or LC16m8 virus strain as a vector for recombinant vaccine.