The use of immunoaffinity chromatography for the isolation of antigens in hepatitis non-A non-B sera

Two particle-associated antigens were isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography from hepatitis non-A, non-B chimpanzee or patient sera. The immunoadsorbent was prepared by coupling the Affi-Prep 10 matrix with immunoglobulins of a chimpanzee immunized with inactivated viral lysate. An antigen estimated to be 33•5 kilodaltons was isolated from acute phase sera of a hepatitis non-A, non-B infected chimpanzee. Western blot analyses showed that this antigen is immunoreactive using a chronic patient serum as the source of antibodies. The antigen was not found in the preinoculation serum. In addition to the 33•5 kilodalton protein, a second antigen estimated to be 56 kilodaltons was isolated from the serum of an acute hepatitis non-A, non-B patient.