乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原(hepatitis B virus core antigen，HBcAg)是乙型肝炎病毒的核衣壳蛋白，具有高度的免疫原性，能自我装配形成病毒样颗粒，并可接受外源基因的插入。HBcAg作为载体和佐剂已用于数十种病原微生物抗原表位的表达和新型疫苗的研发。此文就HBcAg的结构特点、免疫原性及其在疫苗研究中的应用进展作一综述。

 Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg), which is the capsid protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV), possesses high immunogenicity. It can self-assemble to form virus-like partical (VLP) and allow the insertion of exogenous genes. As a carrier and an adjuvant, HBcAg has been used for expressing the antigen epitopes of various pathogenic microbes and the development of novel vaccines. This paper reviews the structure characteristics and immunogenicity of HBcAg, as well as its application progress in vaccine research.