HBeAg antibody – clone 1893
Mouse anti HBeAg antibody (clone 1893) is specific for Hepatitis B virus e antigen. The HBeAg antibody is suitable for immunoassay research and development. Clone 1893 (MAB12227) is suitable for use as a detection antibody with clone 1892 (MAB12226) in ELISA assays.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small, partially double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the genus Orthohepadnaviruses of the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. Currently, eight genotypes of HBV are recognised, designated A-H, with each genotype having a distinct geographical distribution. HBV is a retrovirus that replicates by reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. The HBV genome encodes several structural and non-structural proteins including preCore, core, pol, X(HBx), and envelope proteins L, M and S (Liang ,TJ). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) expresses two structural forms of the nucleoprotein, the intracellular nucleocapsid (hepatitis core antigen, HBcAg) and the secreted nonparticulate form (hepatitis e antigen). The presence of HBeAg in the serum of infected patients is an indicator of active viral replication and disease progression (Tong, S et al).
HBV is a bloodborne virus that is transmitted through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. HBV infection may occur through various routes including the sharing of needles for injecting drugs, the use of inadequately sterilised medical equipment infected with HBV and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products. In endemic areas, perinatal transmission of HBV from mother to child is common.
HBV infection causes liver disease which can vary from acute, or chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis of the liver and potentially hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation of HBV infection can vary from 1 – 6 months. During the period of acute infection, most individuals remain asymptomatic. However, some patients develop acute illness presenting with clinical symptoms that include jaundice, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and extreme fatigue. Acute liver failure may occur in 1% of patients, which can be fatal. HBV infected patients may also develop chronic lifelong disease, which can progress to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in 20-30% of ***** cases (WHO).
The asymptomatic nature of HBV infection, and the similarity of clinical symptoms to other types of hepatitis virus infection makes clinical diagnosis difficult. Therefore, laboratory diagnosis is undertaken using serological and molecular methods to detect HBsAg and specific IgM antibodies recognising core antigen HbcAg.
References
Liang TJ.2009. Hepatitis B: the virus and disease. Hepatology.May;49(5 Suppl): S13-21
Tong S et. al. 2005. Hepatitis B Virus e Antigen Variants. Int J Med Sci. 2(1):2-7.
Seeger C, Mason WS. 2015. Molecular biology of hepatitis B virus infection. Virology.May;479-480:672-86.
World health Organization: Factsheet, Hepatitis B
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