Detection of antibodies directed against the pre-S gene product of hepatitis B virus: relationship between anti-pre-S response and recovery.

A haemagglutination test and a radioimmunoassay were developed for determination of the pre-S-gene-encoded antigenic specificity of hepatitis B virus. The reaction for pre-S-coded determinants was specifically inhibited by the antibody produced in patients recovering from acute type B hepatitis. Kinetics of synthesis of anti-pre-S antibody in the course of acute type hepatitis followed by elimination of HBsAg and recovery suggest the important role of this antibody in immunological neutralization and clearance of infective HBV particles. The possible protective role of anti-pre-S antibody and the use of pre-S-determinant-positive HBsAg particles in HBV vaccines should be considered.