Identification of Additional Antigenic Sites on Dane Particles and the Tubular Forms of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

Additional antigenic sites, distinct from those present on spherical 20 nm diam. particles of hepatitis B surface antigen (HB_sAg), are exposed on the surface of Dane particles and tubular forms of HB_sAg. The immunological relationship of these sites to e-antigen, an antigen detected earlier in HB_sAg-positive sera from patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or acute hepatitis but not in healthy HB_sAg-carriers, was established by immune electron microscopy and affinity chromatography. These findings suggest that e-antigen may be potentially useful in active immunization against hepatitis B.

^* Present address: Laboratoire d'Hygiene, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.