Recent advances in the identification of hepatitis viruses.

Abstract

Resulting directly from the discovery of virus-related antigens, rapid progress has marked the last decade of viral hepatitis research. The hepatitis B virion has been tentatively identified as a DNA virus with an endogenous DNA polymerase, and new serological markers for type B hepatitis have been discovered. Hepatitis A antigen has been identified on a virus-like particle thought to be the hepatitis A virion. Progressively more sophisticated assays for hepatitis antigens and antibodies have been applied to the study of viral hepatitis epidemiology and biochemical-biophysical characterization of the agents. Most recently, knowledge learned from such studies has been exploited to develop a prototype non-infectious but immunogenic hepatitis B vaccine using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) purified in large quantities from chronic HBsAg carriers. Especially exciting is the prospect, suggested by serological studies of viral hepatitis, that hepatitis viruses besides hepatitis A and B viruses will be identified.

• Authors: J L Dienstag, R H Purcell
• Journal: Postgraduate medical journal (Postgrad Med J) Vol. 53 Issue 621 Pg. 364-73 (Jul 1977) ISSN: 0032-5473 [Print] England
• PMID: 196274 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Viral
• Hepatitis B Antigens
• Hepatitis B Core Antigens
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• DNA
• DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase

Topics

• Antigens, Viral (analysis)
• DNA (metabolism)
• DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase (metabolism)
• Hepatitis A (epidemiology, immunology)
• Hepatitis B (epidemiology, immunology, prevention & control)
• Hepatitis B Antigens (analysis)
• Hepatitis B Core Antigens (analysis)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (analysis)
• Hepatitis B virus (immunology)
• Hepatitis Viruses (analysis)
• Hepatovirus (immunology)
• Humans