Identification of a dominant immunogenic epitope of the nucleocapsid (HBc) of the hepatitis B virus.

Four monoclonal antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen are described. The antibodies bind to the same or a very closely related epitope. Antibodies to this dominant epitope are present in the sera of patients with either acute or chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A high percentage of inhibition of the binding of these antibodies to the core antigen by these four monoclonal antibodies suggests that the core antigen has a restricted antigenicity in man. Radiolabeled or peroxidase labeled forms of these monoclonal antibodies can be used to assay IgM and total anticore in serum.