Article du Bulletin
Radioimmunoassay and characterization of woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen and antibody.
Ponzetto A., Cote P.J., Ford E.C., Engle R., Cicmanec J., Shapiro M., Purcell R.H. & Gerin J.L. · 1985 · Virus Res., 2(4): 301-315.
Résumé
Solid-phase radioimmunoassays for woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen (WHcAg) and antibody (anti -WHc) were developed. WHcAg in woodchuck liver homogenates was characterized by ultracentrifugation in CsCl gradients; both heavy (1.35 g/cm3) and light (1.31 g/cm3) cores were obtained from the liver of an animal during acute WHV infection, which is consistent with observations in hepatitis B virus infection in man. Endpoint titers of anti-WHc were higher in chronic WHV carriers than in animals recovered from acute infections. Both IgM and IgG anti -WHc antibodies were produced by infected woodchucks. A survey of colony woodchucks demonstrated that 88/89 animals having one or more markers of past or ongoing WHV infection were positive for anti-WHc. Thus, serum anti-WHc appears to be a sensitive marker of WHV infection.