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Hepatitis B Virus

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Anti-HBV antibodies can be used for infectious disease research. Creative Biolabs' HBV antibody products are available in multiple formats and can be used for a variety of research applications.

Virology

HBV is a small, enveloped, and partially double-stranded DNA virus of the Hepadnaviridae family that infects hepatocytes. The complete virus particle called the Dane particle is 42 nm in diameter. The HBV virion is a lipid-based spherical structure on which three viral envelope proteins are called the large (L), middle (M) and small (S), each containing the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) determinant. The envelope proteins contain domains essential for attachment to hepatocytes. The viral polymerase is covalently attached to the partially double-stranded DNA genome. The core protein (also known as HBcAg) forms the capsid of the viral particles. HBV X protein (HBx) is the only regulatory protein encoded by HBV, that has been shown to be required for HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo.

HBV particle. Fig.1 HBV particle. (Iannacone, 2021)

Three types of viral particles are visualized in infectious serum by electron microscopy.

  • 42 nm in diameter (Dane particles)
  • 20 nm in diameter (Spherical structures)
  • 22 nm in diameter (Filamentous particles)

Subviral particles are non-infectious, contain only envelope proteins, and are secreted in large excess relative to infectious Dane particles.

Schematic diagram of three HBV particles. Fig.2 Schematic diagram of three HBV particles. (Herrscher, 2020)

Pathogenesis

The pathogenic mechanism of HBV has not been studied clearly now. HBV infects hepatocytes, establishes its replication cycle, and persists in the nucleus. The T cell response to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is vigorous, polyclonal and multispecific in acutely infected patients who successfully clear the virus and relatively weak and narrowly focussed in chronically infected patients, suggesting that clearance of HBV is T cell-dependent. Persistent infection is characterized by chronic liver cell injury, regeneration, inflammation, widespread DNA damage and insertional deregulation of cellular growth control genes, which, collectively, lead to cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Symptom

Often, people with HBV don't have symptoms. Signs and symptoms of HBV range from mild to severe. They usually appear about one to four months after you've been infected. Some people, usually young children, may not have any symptoms. Chronic hepatitis B can progress to an inactive carrier state, and then, in some patients, give rise to cirrhosis and cancer of the liver, leading to death.

Hepatitis B signs and symptoms may include:

  • Jaundice (Skin or the whites of the eyes turn yellow, and pee turns brown or orange.)
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Stomach trouble like loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting
  • Weakness and fatigue

Epidemiology

The hepatitis B virus is globally distributed among humans. It is estimated that approximately two billion people worldwide have evidence of past or present infection with HBV, and 257 million individuals are chronic carriers. Approximately 60 percent of the world's population lives in areas where HBV infection is highly endemic, including China, Indonesia, Nigeria, and much of the rest of Asia and Africa. Southern Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia have an intermediate level of HBV endemicity. Most of Central and South America is considered a region of low HBV endemicity. HBV is most commonly spread from mother to child at birth (perinatal transmission) or through horizontal transmission (exposure to infected blood). HBV is also spread by needlestick injury, tattooing, piercing and exposure to body fluids, such as saliva and menstrual, vaginal and seminal fluids.

Prevention and Treatment

The hepatitis B vaccine is the mainstay of hepatitis B prevention. Not everyone with chronic hepatitis B infection needs to be treated. The primary goal of antiviral therapy in chronic HBV infection is the achievement of long-term virologic suppression for both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative infection. At this time,  two injectable interferons and five oral agents have been approved in the treatment of chronic HBV. The worry is that there is still no cure for patients with chronic hepatitis B drugs, but it needs to accept reasonable treatment and recuperate, which can ensure the long-term stability of an illness.

Anti-HBV Products and Services

Creative Biolabs now provides numerous HBV antibodies targeting various proteins such as S, L, HBx protein, etc. Creative Biolabs also provides a fully comprehensive suite of secondary antibodies and isotype controls to meet your needs. In addition, we provide other hepatitis virus antibodies, referred to as types A, C, D and E. Please feel free to contact us for further information.

References

  1. Iannacone, M.; Guidotti, L.G. Immunobiology and pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus infection. Nat Rev Immunol, 2021.
  2. Herrscher, C.I.; et al. Hepatitis B Virus Entry into Cells. Cells, 2020, 9(6): 1486.

All products and services are intended for Research Use Only, and NOT to be used in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

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