title: PCR analysis of HBV infected sera: relationship between expression of pre-S antigens and viral replication.
abstract: In order to determine the biological significance of the pre-S antigens in HBV infection, HBsAg sera were tested for the presence of pre-S1 and pre-S2. HBV DNA was detected by spot-hybridization and PCR. The data show a complete correlation between pre-S antigenemia and HBV DNA replication in anti-HBe positive cases. PCR but not spot-hybridization was adequately sensitive to also detect HBV DNA in roughly half of the preS negative sera as well. Thus PCR appears to be a valuable technique for detection of potentially infectious anti-HBe carriers.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Garbuglia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manzin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budkowska
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taliani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delfini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carloni
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C050806:presurface protein 1, hepatitis B surface antigen; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen