Identification of a dominant immunogenic epitope of the nucleocapsid (HBc) of the hepatitis B virus.
Four monoclonal antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen are described. The antibodies bind to the same or a very closely related epitope. Antibodies to this dominant epitope are present in the sera of patients with either acute or chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A high percentage of inhibition of the binding of these antibodies to the core antigen by these four monoclonal antibodies suggests that the core antigen has a restricted antigenicity in man. Radiolabeled or peroxidase labeled forms of these monoclonal antibodies can be used to assay IgM and total anticore in serum.
J A
JA
Waters
T P
TP
Jowett
H C
HC
Thomas
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014758:Viral Core Proteins