Generation and utilization of a monoclonal antibody against hepatitis B virus core protein for a comprehensive interactome analysis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBc) is a structural protein that forms the viral nucleocapsid and is involved in various steps of the viral replication cycle, but its role in the pathogenesis of HBV infection is still elusive. In this study, we generated a mouse monoclonal antibody against HBc and used it in an antibody-based in situ biotinylation to identify the host proteins that interact with HBc.