NON A, NON B HEPATITIS VIRUS, METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION, PURIFICATION, CHARACTERIZATION, DIAGNOSIS AND IMMUNIZATION

摘要

A purified form of a DNA virus which has the following characteristics: molecular weight greater than 2 X 10<6> Daltons; substantial immunoreactivity towards an anti-HBsAg monoclonal antibody 5D3; substantially no immunoreactivity towards an anti-HBsAg monoclonal antibody obtained from cell line ATCC CRL 8018; concentration dependent immunoreactivity towards polyclonal IgG anti-HBsAg antibodies, which increases with increased concentration of said DNA virus; discrete particulate form when observed by immunoelectron microscopy in the presence of IgM antibodies from cell line ATCC HB 8058; the DNA of said virus showing hybridization with DNA from hepatitis B viral DNA; and said DNA virus showing, in chimpanzees, infectivity having the characteristics of non A, non B hepatitis.