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RNA of Australia Antigen

Nature New Biology volume 229, pages 92–94 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

ALTHOUGH the exact nature of Australia (Au) antigen is not resolved, increasing evidence suggests that it is the causal agent of viral hepatitis. This supposition is based chiefly on the frequent occurrence of Au antigen in the sera of patients with viral hepatitis1–4 and on its virus-like appearance under the electron microscope5–7. Biochemical studies have shown that Au antigen consists largely of protein, with a minor lipid moiety8, 9. So far, however, no genetic material has been detected in the Au antigen, and it has been suggested that the Au antigen might be “a unique infectious particle with little or no nucleic acid”10. We wish to present evidence, however, that RNA is an essential component of Au antigen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Haematology, Department of Immunopathology, Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, State Institute of Hygiene, Department of Radiobiology and Health Protection, Institute of Nuclear Research, Warsaw

    WLADYLSAW JÓZWIAK & JERZY KOŚCIELAK

  2. Department of Immunopathology, Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, State Institute of Hygiene, Department of Radiobiology and Health Protection, Institute of Nuclear Research, Warsaw

    KAZIMIERZ MADALIŃSKI, WITOLD JÓZEF BRZOSKO & ADAM NOWOSŁAWSKI

  3. Department of Radiobiology and Health Protection, Institute of Nuclear Research, Warsaw

    MAREK KŁOCZEWIAK

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  1. WLADYLSAW JÓZWIAK
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JÓZWIAK, W., KOŚCIELAK, J., MADALIŃSKI, K. et al. RNA of Australia Antigen. Nature New Biology 229, 92–94 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio229092a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio229092a0

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