Which statement about the immune response to hepatitis B is correct?

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The presence of antibodies against HBs antigen indicates immunity to the infection.Antibodies targeting HBc antigen do not provide protective immunity.Persistent carriers of HBs antigen exhibit the highest levels of anti-HBc antibodies.Cell-mediated immunity vanishes shortly after recovery from hepatitis B.None of the above statements are true.

Explanation

Antibodies directed against the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are linked to protection against the virus. In contrast, antibodies to the core antigen (HBc) do not confer immunity. Furthermore, individuals who remain carriers of HBsAg tend to have elevated anti-HBc antibody levels. Cell-mediated immunity typically persists beyond recovery, rather than disappearing immediately.