title: Radioimmunoassay and characterization of woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen and antibody.
abstract: Solid-phase radioimmunoassays for woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen (WHcAg) and antibody (anti-WHc) were developed. WHcAg in woodchuck liver homogenates was characterized by ultracentrifugation in CsCl gradients; both heavy (1.35 g/cm3) and light (1.31 g/cm3) cores were obtained from the liver of an animal during acute WHV infection, which is consistent with observations in hepatitis B virus infection in man. Endpoint titers of anti-WHc were higher in chronic WHV carriers than in animals recovered from acute infections. Both IgM and IgG anti-WHc antibodies were produced by infected woodchucks. A survey of colony woodchucks demonstrated that 88/89 animals having one or more markers of past or ongoing WHV infection were positive for anti-WHc. Thus, serum anti-WHc appears to be a sensitive marker of WHV infection.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008392:Marmota / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M