Preparation and functional evaluation of monoclonal antibodies targeting Hepatitis B Virus Polymerase
Song Hu 1 , Hualong Xiong 2 , Xiaozhen Kang 2 , Shaojuan Wang 2 , Tianying Zhang 2 , Quan Yuan 2 , Deying Tian 1
Affiliations
Affiliations
1
Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
2
School of Life Science & School of Public Health; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361102, China.
PMID: 33356842 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1869391
Abstract
Background: HBV pol plays a critical role in the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Previous studies conducted on HBV pol have produced limited evidence on HBV pol expression due to the lack of effective detection methods.
Methods: The present study used the HBV pol (159-406 aa) protein as a target to screen for specific monoclonal antibodies that recognize HBV pol and subsequently evaluate their diagnostic and therapeutic value.
Results: Four antibodies (P3, P5, P12, P20) against HBV pol were obtained. Among them, the P20 antibody indicated optimal binding with HBV pol as demonstrated by Western blotting (WB) in a cell model transfected with the HBV genome. We also expressed P5 and P12 antibodies in mouse liver cells by transfection and the results indicated significant antiviral effects caused by these two antibodies especially P12.
Conclusion: In summary, the present study established an antibody which was denoted P20. This antibody can be used to detect HBV pol expression by four HBV genomes via WB analysis. In addition, the antibody denoted P12 could exert antiviral effects via intracellular expression, which may provide a promising approach for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.