Initial liver biopsies from asymptomatic HBs antigen positive blood donors showed a range of histological abnormalities ranging from minor parenchymal lesions to cirrhosis. Twenty of these have now been followed up for periods of up to four years and during that time have had at least two liver biopsies. Throughout the period of study all the donors have remained carriers of HBs Ag, and there w...

The effect of the proprietary adjuvant MF59 on the immunogenicity of a recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine, PreS2+SAg, was investigated in baboons. The magnitude and duration of the antibody response to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) induced by the HBV/MF59 vaccine was compared with the same antigen combined with alum and with two licensed alum vaccines. After one immunization, ...

BACKGROUND Health care workers (HCWs) are frequently exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The efficacy and safety of immunization with the hepatitis B (HB) vaccine are well recognized, but the durability of immunity and need for booster doses in those with secondary vaccine response failure remains controversial. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study performed at Osaka Univer...

The widely used hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is based on three doses of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) protein. We previously showed that vectored measles viruses (MV) expressing HBsAg retain measles vaccine function in monkeys but do not induce a protective anti-HBs response in all animals. We show here that a single dose of HBsAg protein following a three-dose vaccination regimen with...

BACKGROUND There is a controversy about the relation between anti-hepatitis B (anti-HBs) antibody level and obesity. We designed this study to compare the vaccine efficacy in obese/overweight and non-obese cases. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 242 obese/overweight and 85 non-obese individuals were participated. Cases were selected from a referral clinic for obesity and a referral hepa...

Objectives: To assess the antibody level against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) among newborns and their mothers and among recently vaccinated infants at age of 9 and 12 months. It also aimed at assessing the long-term immunity to hepatitis B among vaccinated children aged 6–11 years according to Egyptian expanded immunizing protocol. Methodology: Total no of 323 vaccinated healthy infa...

A renal transplant patient became a carrier of HBs Ag within four weeks of a successful transplant. The level of antigenaemia was extremely high, and approximately 3% of the particles were 42 nm Dane particles, although the anti-HBe was present from at least 20 months after transplant. After four years the antigenaemia declined to a low level, and five years later HBs Ag became undetectable for...

Clinical and laboratory staff of the Army and RAF medical services at risk of acquiring infection with hepatitis B were immunised against the virus with a recombinant vaccine. Vaccine was administered in Service hospitals and medical centres located throughout the world. After a primary course of vaccine, 73% of personnel developed anti-HBs titres > or = 100 IU/L to hepatitis B surface antigen ...