Characterization of hepatitis B e antigen from human breast milk.
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) but not surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in 20% of the milk samples taken from HBsAg carrier mothers by radioimmunoassay. The density of milk e antigen particles was peaked at 1.32 g/ml in CsCl gradient ultracentrifugation. HBeAg was found in 1.33 M and 3.24 M (NH4) 2SO4 precipitates from breast milk but neither of HBeAg in both precipitates showed exactly identical with serum-derived e antigen. Five bands of polypeptides with molecular weight of 8,000, 21,500, 37,000, 53,000 and 68,000 daltons were seen after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from the milk e antigen. In addition, the IgA was shown significantly high in HBeAg positive milk.
D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000382:microbiology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010455:Peptides