title: Demonstration of previously undetected hepatitis B viral determinants in an Australian Aboriginal population by monoclonal anti-hbs antibody radioimmunoassays.
abstract: High-affinity IgM and IgG monoclonal antibodies (anti-HBs) against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) determinants were used to study a confined Australian Aboriginal population, 51% of which showed evidence of exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV). A conventional radioimmunoassay which uses polyvalent anti-HBs antisera indicated that 4.4% of the subjects were positive for HBsAg; a monoclonal IgM anti-HBs radioimmunoassay detected all these HBsAg-positive samples and showed enhanced binding activity in a further 5.4% of subjects. Detailed analysis of this binding activity in serum by different IgG and IgM monoclonal anti-HBs antibodies demonstrated additional HBsAg-associated determinants as well as remarkable homogeneity of the determinants in this population. It was concluded that there are HBV or HBV-like agents in this community not previously detected by conventional assays.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002648:Child; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M