Interaction of hepatitis B surface antigen with serum albumin of various species on polystylene latex particles.

Polystylene latex particles coated with serum albumin of various species, including non-primate serum albumin, were agglutinated by sera containing hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen and hepatitis Be (HBe) antigen and by purified HBs antigen. Monomer and polymer albumin separated from human serum albumin preparations on latex particles were found to react with HBs antigen. Monomer from non-primate serum albumin preparations bound to latex particles was also found to have the ability to react with HBs antigen, but polymer of non-primate serum albumin did not. The mechanism of reaction between HBs antigen and the latex-bound serum albumin of various species is discussed.