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What is Hepatitis
B? > About Hepatitis B > Hepatitis
B Virus
Hepatitis B Virus
The hepatitis B virus is a small DNA virus that belongs to
the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. The hepatitis B virus
causes hepatitis B in humans. Related viruses in
this family cause hepatitis in ducks, ground squirrels and
woodchucks.
The hepatitis B virus contains an inner core
and outer envelope. There is an outer shell (or envelope) composed
of protein that is termed "surface antigen" or "HBsAg".
The surface antigen is generally produced in vast amounts,
and the hepatitis B blood tests can detect this portion of
the virus in the blood of infected individuals.
The outer shell surrounds an inner protein shell that is referred
to as the core particle or "HBcAg", which contains
the viral DNA and enzymes used in viral replication (called "DNA
polymerase").
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Hepatitis
B