English: Simplified graphical representation of a cross-section of the Hepatitis B virus particle and surface (surplus) antigen, the hepatitis B e antigens (HBcAg) shown are considered not part of the viral particle (quod videviral nonstructural protein). The structure of the Hepatitis B virus as first described by Dane & al.[1] and Jokelainen, Krohn & al.[2] during 1970. The hepatitis B virion is a complex, double shelled, spherical particle with a 42 nm diameter.[1][2][3]
The 6 nm[2] thick outer viral envelope or membrane contains host-derived lipids and surface proteins,[2] known collectively as HBsAg.[3] The membrane contains globular subunits each measuring ca. 3 to 4 nm in diameter and 3 to 4 nm apart.[2]
Within the membrane sphere is a 2 nm thick icosahedralnucleocapsid inner core composed of protein (HBcAg) with a 27 nm diameter.[2] When viewed through an electron microscope the inner core may appear pentagonal or hexagonal,[2] depending on the relative position of the sample.
The nucleocapsid contains a viral genome[2] of circular, partially double stranded DNA[3] and endogenous DNA polymerase[4][3] within a diameter of ca. 18 nm.[2]
The virion was initially referred to as the Dane particle.[4] Only after Baruch Blumberg received the Nobel Prize in Medicine during 1976 was it universally accepted that the particle is a virus and the infectious agent of Hepatitis B.
Australiaantigen (HBsAg): The serum of infected patients contain small spherical and rod-shaped particles with a diameter of ca. 20 nm,[5] consisting of surplus virus-coat material containing the HBsAg antigen.[1][2] This antigen was first discovered by Baruch Blumberg during 1965 within the blood of Australian aboriginal people and initially known as "Australia antigen".[6] It was shown to be associated with "serum hepatitis" by A. M. Prince during 1968.[7]
The outer membrane of the virion is sometimes extended as a tubular tail on one side of the virus particle (not shown);[2][3] these virion "tails" are identical to the small particles.[2][3]
2007-11-14 18:14 TimVickers 843×577× (81917 bytes) Simplified drawing of the Hepatitis B virus particle and surface (surplus) antigen
Sources
↑ abcD.S. Dane , C.H. Cameron , Moya Briggs (1970). "Virus-Like Particles in Serum of Patients with Australia-Antigen-Associated Hepatitis". The Lancet295: 695–698. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(70)90926-8.
↑ abAlmeida J D, Rubenstein D & Scott E J. (1971). "New antigen-antibody system in Australia-antigen-positive hepatitis". The Lancet298 (7736): 1225–7. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(71)90543-5.
↑Bayer, M. E., B. S. Blumberg, and B. Werner (1968). "Particles associated with Australia antigen in the sera of patients with leukemia, Down's syndrome and hepatitis.". Nature (London)218: 1057-1059.
{{Information |Description={{en|Simplified drawing of the Hepatitis B virus particle and surface (surplus) antigen. Created by en:User:GrahamColm}} |Source=Transferred from [http://en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia] |Date=2007-11-14 (original upload date