[Synthesis and expression of the DNA fragment coding the antigenic determinant of the surface antigen protein of hepatitis B virus].

With the use of chemical-enzymatic synthesis, a polynucleotide (I) has been obtained which codes the amino acid sequence 93-109 of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The plasmid pHS12, constructed by insertion of (I) into pBR325 between EcoRI and BamHI sites, transformed E. coli HB101 cells. The plasmid expression in cell-free system produced a chimeric protein, its molecular weight corresponding to that a polypeptide containing the heptadecapeptide from HBsAg. An approach is discussed for creating a new type of vaccines on the basis of chimeric proteins containing the antigenic determinants of virus proteins.