Determination of HBsAg subtypes in different high risk populations using monoclonal antibodies.
Monoclonal antibodies with restricted specificity were used in a modified commercial enzyme immunoassay for detection of HBsAg to subtype HBsAg in sera from 122 Southeast Asian refugees entering the United States, 62 inmates of a correctional facility, and 19 homosexual men. This method was able to classify HBsAg as aywl-2, ayw3, ayw4, ayr, adw2, adw4, or adr. The HBsAg subtype was identified in 183 (90.1%) of the serum samples, but the serum HBsAg concentration was too low to determine the subtype for the 20 (9.9%) remaining samples. Among the Southeast Asian refugees, aywl-2 was demonstrated in 35 (33.0%) of the subtyped serum samples, the adw2 subtype was identified in 33 (31.1%) sera, adr was detected in 37 (34.9%) sera, and the adw 4 subtype as found in 1 (0.9%). The most common subtypes in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia were aywl-2, adw2, and adr, respectively. In prison inmates, the ayw3 subtype accounted for 31 (52.5%) of the subtyped serum samples, an ayw2 variant and the adw2 subtype were each found in 13 (22.0%) sera, and the aywl-2 subtype was detected in 2 (3.4%) sera. Many of these inmates admitted intravenous drug use. Among homosexual men, the adw2 subtype was identified in 16 (88.9%) of the subtyped serum samples and the ayw3 subtype was detected in 2 (11.1%) sera. This subtyping method can distinguish between most of the nine major HBsAg subtypes and can be easily performed with these monoclonal antibodies and commercially available reagents.
Swenson
P D
PD
Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, University of Washington.
Riess
J T
JT
Krueger
L E
LE
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D011330:Prisons; D012307:Risk Factors; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens