Crystalline aggregates of hepatitis B core particles in cytoplasm of hepatocytes.
Large crystalline accumulations of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) particles were detected in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes from a patient with mild reactive hepatitis. Within these crystals, the core particles showed a symmetrical hexagonal arrangement with the center-to-center particle distance estimated at 24 nm. The possible mechanism of aggregation and the significance of HBcAg crystalline lattice in the preservation of hepatitis B virus are discussed.
D002353:Carrier State / Q000473:pathology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens