Expression of surface antigen gene of human hepatitis B virus serotype adr in Escherichia coli.

The construction of an expression plasmid of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) gene from the cloned hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome subtype adr is reported. The expression products of this plasmid in E. coli were detected by means of radioimmunoassay in competitive suppression and polyacrylamide-SDS gel electrophoresis. The presence of a fusion protein containing HBsAg was confirmed.