Related Experiment Videos
Detection of core antibody in hepatitis B infection
Insights
Researchers detected hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in patients with hepatitis B infection. This antibody was present during acute and later stages, and in carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) is present on Dane particles and in hepatocyte nuclei of patients with Hepatitis B.
- HBcAg is a key indicator in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for detecting core antibody (anti-HBc) in human serum.
- To assess the presence of anti-HBc in various patient groups and healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Prepared HBcAg from the liver of an HBV-infected chimpanzee.
- Utilized complement fixation assay to test human serum for anti-HBc.
Main Results:
- Anti-HBc was detected in serum from patients during acute and convalescent stages of hepatitis B.
- Anti-HBc was found in carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), including those with chronic liver or renal disease.
- Anti-HBc was absent in patients with hepatitis A, infectious mononucleosis, and healthy non-HBsAg carriers.
Conclusions:
- Complement fixation assay using chimpanzee-derived HBcAg is effective for detecting anti-HBc.
- Anti-HBc is a reliable serological marker for hepatitis B infection across different stages and in HBsAg carriers.
Abstract:
Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) is found on the decoated Dane particle and on a morphologically similar particle detected mainly in the nucleus of hepatocytes of patients with hepatitis B. HBcAg prepared from the liver of a chimpanzee infected with hepatitis B virus was used to test human serum for core antibody (anti-HBc) by complement fixation. Anti-HBc was found in serum collected from patients with hepatitis B in both the acute and convalescent stages, from carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and from patients with chronic liver or renal disease who were carriers of HBsAg. It was not found in patients with hepatitis A or infectious mononucleosis, or in healthy persons who were not carriers of HBsAg.