title: A new hepatitis B virus surface antigen.
abstract: A new determinant of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag), g, which is distinct from the previously identified determinants a, d, y, w, and r, was studied. This new antigen tended to be associated with the d antigen; it was found in 97% of ad specimens and in 15% of ay specimens. With few exceptions, the atypical subtypes, adg- and ayg+, were identified in sera from blood donors, but not in sera from patients with acute viral hepatitis; this finding possibly reflects a reduced tendency of these viral strains to evoke a host immune response. The ability to identify g represents a refinement of HBs Ag serotyping that may be of value in the study of the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus.
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens