Abstract
DNA fragments from hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been inserted into plasmid vectors and cloned in Escherichia coli1, and some of these bacterial clones have been reported to synthesize hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg)1,2. Material from a derivative of one HBcAg-synthesizing clone is being evaluated in our laboratory and elsewhere3,4 as a serological reagent for use in various assays, including immune electron microscopy, to detect anti-HBcAg antibody. It has been shown by gel exclusion chromatography that the bacterial HBcAg is in an aggregated form3. We now report that the E. coli HBcAg preparation contains Small round particles similar in appearance to the viral cores previously seen in material obtained from HBV-infected humans5–7 and chimpanzees8.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burrell, C. J., MacKay, P., Greenaway, P. J., Hofschneider, P. H. & Murray, K. Nature 279, 43–47 (1979).
Pasek, M. et al. Nature 282, 575–579 (1979).
Stahl, S., MacKay, P., Magazin, M., Bruce, S. A. & Murray, K. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (in the press).
Peutherer, J. F., MacKay, P., Ross, R., Stahl, S. & Murray, K. Med. Lab. Sci. 38, 355–358 (1981).
Almeida, J. D., Waterson, A. P., Trowell, J. M. & Neale, G. Microbios 2, 145–153 (1970).
Deutsch, G. F. & Spence, L. Lancet i, 447 (1972).
Huang, S-N. & Groh, V. Lab. Invest. 29, 353–366 (1973).
Barker, L. F. et al. J. Virol. 14, 1552–1558 (1974).
Cohen, B. J. & Cossart, Y. E. J. clin. Path. 30, 709–713 (1977).
Wrigley, N. G. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 24, 454–464 (1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cohen, B., Richmond, J. Electron microscopy of hepatitis B core antigen synthesized in E. coli. Nature 296, 677–678 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/296677a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/296677a0
This article is cited by
-
Ciclopirox inhibits Hepatitis B Virus secretion by blocking capsid assembly
Nature Communications (2019)
-
Construction and Immunological Evaluation of CpG-Au@HBc Virus-Like Nanoparticles as a Potential Vaccine
Nanoscale Research Letters (2016)
-
Preparation by alkaline treatment and detailed characterisation of empty hepatitis B virus core particles for vaccine and gene therapy applications
Scientific Reports (2015)
-
Prophylactic vaccination against hepatitis B: achievements, challenges and perspectives
Medical Microbiology and Immunology (2015)
-
Construction and Characterization of Virus-Like Particles: A Review
Molecular Biotechnology (2013)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.