Precore and core mutations in HBV from individuals in india with chronic infection

Ten hepatitis B surface antigen seropositive carriers (5 asymptomatic and 5 with chronic liver disease) were tested for HBeAg/anti‐HBe and for HBV‐DNA using the polymerase chain reaction. Five were DNA‐positive, 2 with HBeAg and 3 with anti‐HBe. Nucleotide sequences were determined for these 5 cases. Hepatitis B virus DNA from one cirrhotic carrier with anti‐HBe had a mutation in the precore region (nucleotide position 1862) which may affect signal peptide cleavage and HBeAg synthesis. In the other 2 anti‐HBe‐ and DNA‐positive cases, a cirrhotic carrier and an asymptomatic case, there was a mutation at nucleotide position 1896 leading to a termination codon in the precore region. In all 5 patients, except for one or two missense mutations, there was no significant variation in the core region. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.