The Dane Particle

To the Editor.— The section MEDICAL NEWS (226:1403, 1973) featured the work of Kaplan et al, published in the Journal of Virology (12:995, 1973) describing DNA polymerase activity associated with human hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag). This work indicated, although it by no means proved, that the 28-nm Dane particle core may contain the DNA polymerase activity.I was extremely dismayed that the news report did not give credit to Hirschman et al (Lancet 1:1099,1971), who originally discovered DNA polymerase of hepatitis B antigen in 1971 (Trans NY Acad Sci 33:595, 1971). Similar inhibitor studies cited as evidence for a DNA template by Kaplan et al had already been performed by Dr. Hirschman who concluded that such studies cannot definitely establish the nature of the nucleic acid template, whether DNA or RNA, for the polymerase.