[Cloning of the hepatitis B virus genome in Escherichia coli]

The whole genome of the hepatitis B virus (Dane particles) was inserted in vitro in the genome of the bacteriophage lambda gtWES . LAMBDA B. The recombinant DNA molecule was cloned in E. coli. Amplification of the hybrid bacteriophage enables the preparation of large amounts of hepatitis B virus DNA. The possibilities offered by the utilization of this recombinant bacteriophage are discussed.