Hepatitis B surface antigen on subviral particles reduces the neutralizing effect of anti-HBs antibodies on hepatitis B viral particles in vitro

Virology. 2017 Sep:509:67-70. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.05.017. Epub 2017 Jun 10.

Abstract

During hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections subviral particles (SVP) consisting mainly of hepatitis B surface antigen are present at much higher concentration than viral particles (VP) in serum. To investigate reasons for this excess of SVP production, SVP and VP were fractionated on a Nycodenz gradient and analyzed for HBV infection of HepG2-NTCP cells with and without anti-HBs antibodies. Our findings showed that SVP significantly reduced the neutralization of VP by anti-HBs, while SVP had little effect on viral entry, supporting the assumption that SVP serve as decoy facilitating cell-to-cell spread of HBV in the presence of neutralizing antibodies.

Keywords: Attachment; Dane particles; HBV; HBsAg; Neutralisation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology
  • Humans
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Virion / immunology*
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens