Use of the cross-reactivity with hepatitis B virus antigens and antibodies for the demonstration of a woodchuck hepatitis virus 'e' antigen-antibody system.
Woodchucks hepatitis virus (WHV)-associated antigens and antibodies were studied using current sensitive radio- or enzyme immunoassays (RIA, EIA). A significant cross-reactivity was observed between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and woodchuck hepatitis surface antigen (WHsAg) using RIA or EIA (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.) although not with two other commercial EIA tested (Organon Technika, Oss, The Netherlands; Behringwerke AG, Marburg, F.R.G.). A weak but significant reactivity was also found when woodchuck sera positive for WHsAg or anti-WHs by immunodiffusion were tested for HBeAg and anti-HBe by RIA, suggesting the existence of a WHeAg-anti-WHe system in infected woodchucks. The specificity of this e-anti-e reactivity in the woodchuck was further confirmed by successful absorption experiments. WHsAg and WHeAg could be distinguished serologically by immunodiffusion and separated from each other by ultracentrifugation and ammonium sulphate precipitation. A WHeAg preparation was used to boost the presumed natural antibody activity of an immune woodchuck. The specific anti-HBe response detected by RIA during the immunization experiments demonstrated the existence of a soluble WHeAg cross-reacting with the human HBe-anti-HBe system. This was confirmed in immunodiffusion by a partial identity between the precipitin lines formed by the WHeAg-anti-Whe and HBeAg-anti-HBe reaction. Whether the WHe-Ag-anti-WHe system wil mimick HBeAg and anti-HBe in all their clinico-pathological correlations, deserves further study.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008392:Marmota; D013045:Species Specificity
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens