title: Detection of antibodies to the nonstructural 3C proteinase of hepatitis A virus.
abstract: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection can stimulate the production of antibodies to structural and nonstructural proteins of the virus. However, vaccination with an inactivated vaccine produces antibodies exclusively to the structural proteins. Current diagnostic assays, such as the Abbott HAVAB test, used to determine exposure to HAV detect antibodies only to the structural proteins and as a result are not able to distinguish between a natural infection and vaccination with an inactivated virus. Therefore, an ELISA was developed that is specific for antibodies to the nonstructural protein 3C of HAV and thus serves to document the occurrence of viral replication. Antibodies to the proteinase were not detected by this assay in serum from HAVAB-seropositive primates that were immunized with inactivated HAV. However, antibodies to the proteinase were detected in the serum of all primates experimentally infected with virulent HAV and in the serum of naturally infected humans.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0740, USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Emerson
mesh_terms: D000086042:3C Viral Proteases; D000818:Animals; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D012452:Saguinus; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; D014764:Viral Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D000086042:3C Viral Proteases