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Genomic variability associated with the presence of occult hepatitis B virus in HIV co‐infected individuals
Author(s) -
Martin C. M.,
Welge J. A.,
Shire N. J.,
Rouster S. D.,
Shata M. T.,
Sherman K. E.,
Blackard J. T.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2009.01214.x
Subject(s) - hbsag , viral quasispecies , hepatitis b virus , virology , biology , hepatitis b , genotype , serology , virus , immunology , antibody , hepatitis c virus , gene , genetics
Summary. Occult hepatitis B virus (O‐HBV) infection is characterized by the presence of HBV DNA without detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBV DNA+/HBsAg−) in the serum. Although O‐HBV is more prevalent during HBV/HIV co‐infection, analysis of HBV mutations in co‐infected patients is limited. In this preliminary study, HBV PreSurface (PreS) and surface (S) regions were amplified from 33 HIV‐positive patient serum samples – 27 chronic HBV (C‐HBV) and six O‐HBV infections. HBV genotype was determined by phylogenetic analysis, while quasispecies diversity was quantified for the PreS, S and overlapping polymerase regions. C‐HBV infections harboured genotypes A, D and G, compared to A, E, G and one mixed A/G infection for O‐HBV. Interestingly, nonsynonymous–synonymous mutation values indicated positive immune selection in three regions for O‐HBV vs one for C‐HBV. Sequence analysis further identified new O‐HBV mutations, in addition to several previously reported mutations within the HBsAg antigenic determinant. Several of these O‐HBV mutations likely contribute to the lack of detectable HBsAg in O‐HBV infection by interfering with detection in serologic assays, altering antigen secretion and/or decreasing replicative fitness.