Hepatitis A virus capsid proteins (HAV capsid)

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) epitopes are the specific antigenic determinants located on the viral capsid, which is a non-enveloped icosahedral structure composed of the structural proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 (UniProt: P03300). These epitopes are the primary targets for the host's immune system, particularly for neutralizing antibodies that block the virus's ability to bind to the host cell receptor, such as the Hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1 (HAVCR1) (PubMed: 29434354). In clinical practice, these epitopes are utilized in the development of inactivated vaccines, which prime the immune system to recognize and neutralize the virus upon exposure (CDC: Hepatitis A Vaccination). Additionally, they serve as the target for passive immunotherapy using human immune globulin, which provides post-exposure prophylaxis by neutralizing circulating viral particles (StatPearls: Hepatitis A). The highly conserved nature of these epitopes across different HAV genotypes makes them ideal targets for universal vaccine strategies.

Other names

Hepatitis A virus epitopesHAV antigensVP1VP2VP3VP4HAV structural proteins

Vaccines containing these epitopes induce active immunity by stimulating the production of neutralizing antibodies (IgG) that bind to the viral capsid and prevent hepatocyte infection. Passive immunization with immune globulin provides immediate neutralization of the virus by supplying pre-formed antibodies that target these epitopes.