We conducted HTS of the TCR β chain and BCR IgG heavy (H) chain complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) repertoires in five volunteers before and after the second and third immunizations with the HB vaccine.
The preferentially selected TRBV5.1 and BV20 with the relatively conserved CDR3 motif may be potential targets for personalized treatments of chronic HBV infection.
The CDR3 spectratype of each T cell receptor (TCR) β chain variable region (Vβ) gene family was analyzed, and the changes in the numbers of Vβ families with clonal expansions were compared in subjects with (n = 12) and without (n = 8) a virological response (52 week HBV DNA < 300 copies/ml).
Finally, we provide evidence for a putative public binding motif within the CDR3 region with the sequence G-X-S, which may be involved with hepatitis B virus recognition.