General characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV)
HBV is a hepatotropic, enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus of Hepadnaviridae family consisting of a nucleocapsid core with two antigenically distinct constituents, hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg). The core is surrounded by a nucleocapsid coat, known as the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
