Preparation of hepatitis B polypeptide micelles from human carrier plasma.

Water-soluble protein micelles consisting of the 28,000 (gp28) and 23,00 (p23) molecular weight polypeptide complex of hepatitis B surface antigen can be readily prepared from human plasma containing the surface antigen and other markers of infection with hepatitis B virus. The antigenic activity of the polypeptides was preserved throughout the process of solubilisation and reassociation into micelles. Such preparations are therefore eminently suitable as "second generation" hepatitis B vaccines.