The demonstration of subtype (D or Y)-specific determinants on the surface of the presumed hepatitis B virus

Dane particles isolated from the sera of HBsAg/ad and HBsAg/ay carriers were reacted with monospecific antibodies to the d and y subtype-specific determinants of HBsAg/. Dane particles from HBsAg/ad expressed the d determinant on their surfaces and those from HBsAg/ay sera contained the y specificity. Both complete (DNA-P and HBcAg) and defective (HBcAg alone) Dane particles expressed the subtype-specific determinants.