title: A monoclonal antibody enzyme immunoassay for the detection of epitopes encoded by the pre-S2 region of the hepatitis B virus genome.
abstract: Pre-S2-coded sequences of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) represent important serological markers of HBV infection and elicit the antibodies essential for recovery from type B hepatitis. Monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) directed against two non-overlapping epitopes (pre-S2a and pre-S2b) of the pre-S2 protein of HBV were used to develop an enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA). The assay was based on the solid-phase sandwich principle in which two different epitope-specific antibodies were used as immunadsorbents and as enzyme-labelled probes. The assay sensitivity was in the pg range and permitted precise quantitation of the pre-S2 sequences in sera. Using the 'site-specific' monoclonal assay we demonstrated that pre-S2a and pre-S2b epitopes are expressed on HBsAg particles of both ay and ad subtypes. The assay is the most sensitive currently available method for the detection of pre-S2 epitopes and may be used for routine immunodiagnosis of hepatitis B.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D005796:Genes; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000939:Epitopes; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens