title: Use of the cross-reactivity between hepatitis B and non-A, non-B viruses for the identification and detection of non-A, non-B 'e' antigen.
abstract: The morphological similarities between B and non-A, non-B hepatitis viruses prompted the search for common antigenic determinants between the two agents. Major antigenic cross-reactivity was demonstrated by immunodiffusion between hepatitis B e/3 and the most common circulating antigen previously reported in the serum of patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis. Since it is the equivalent of an e antigen, this antigen will be hereafter referred to as non-A, non-B/e antigen. Screening with hepatitis B e/3 antigen or anti-hepatitis B e/3 by immunodiffusion may be used as an easy and efficient way to test for non-A, non-B hepatitis in the absence of specific reagents since it detected up to 91% of non-A, non-B antigen and 86% of anti-non-A, non-B/e. Antigenic cross-reactivity may be used to look for additional viruses belonging to the hepatitis B group.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens