Failure of antibody to e antigen to precipitate Dane particles containing DNA polymerase activity and hepatitis B core antigen.
Serum samples of 67 asymptomatic carriers were tested for Dane particles by electron microscopy, and for e antigen by immunodiffusion, as well as for hepatitis B antigen-associated DNA polymerase activity, and four samples enriched with respect to Dane particles were selected. Hepatitis B antigen particles in them were separated from e antigen and concentrated by centrifugation, and the Dane-rich preparations were incubated with buffer, antibody to e antigen (anti-HBe) or antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. After centrifugation, the supernatant was tested for DNA polymerase activity, and both supernatant and precipitate were tested for hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) by the immune adherence haemagglutination method after the coat of the Dane particles had been disrupted with NP-40 and 2-mercaptoethanol. It was found that anti-HBe did not precipitate Dane particles as measured by DNA polymerase activity and HBcAg. On the basis of the results obtained, it has been concluded that e antigen does not exist on the surface of hepatitis B virions.
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase