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Biological Sciences: Association of Antibodies to Australia Antigen with Anti-Gm Antibodies in Italian Patients with Thalassaemia

Nature volume 236, pages 28–30 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

THERE is considerable evidence that Australia antigen (Au(l)) is intimately associated with an infectious agent that can cause hepatitis in man1. From the time of our original discovery of Au(l)2 we have also tested the hypothesis that it has the properties of a serum protein polymorphism. This hypothesis has been supported by population, genetic, chemical and immunological studies. Because the two hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, we have combined them to form a third hypothesis, namely that Australia antigen is an infectious agent which causes hepatitis in man and has many of the properties of a serum protein polymorphism3. Here we report observations on patients with thalassaemia that bear on this concept.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    B. S. BLUMBERG, A. VIERUCCI, W. T. LONDON & A. I. SUTNICK

  2. Clinica Pediatrica, Universita di Firenze, Florence

    B. S. BLUMBERG, A. VIERUCCI, W. T. LONDON & A. I. SUTNICK

Authors
  1. B. S. BLUMBERG
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  2. A. VIERUCCI
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  3. W. T. LONDON
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  4. A. I. SUTNICK
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BLUMBERG, B., VIERUCCI, A., LONDON, W. et al. Biological Sciences: Association of Antibodies to Australia Antigen with Anti-Gm Antibodies in Italian Patients with Thalassaemia. Nature 236, 28–30 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/236028a0

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