1
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He C, Liu Y, Jiang X, Xu Z, Xiang Z, Lu Z. Frequency of HBsAg variants in occult hepatitis B virus infected patients and detection by ARCHITECT HBsAg quantitative. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1368473. [PMID: 38766475 PMCID: PMC11099262 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1368473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To analyze the amino acid substitution caused by mutations in the major hydrophilic region (MHR) of the S-region genes in the serum samples of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI), and to explore the reasons for the missed detection of HBsAg. Method The full-length gene of the S-region in hepatitis B virus(HBV) in the chronic hepatitis B virus(CHB)(10 samples) and OBI groups(42 samples) was amplified using a lab-developed, two-round PCR amplification technology. The PCR amplification products were sequenced/clone sequenced, and the nucleotide sequences of the S-region gene in HBV were compared to the respective genotype consensus sequence. Results Only 20 of the 42 samples in the OBI group had the S-region genes successfully amplified, with the lowest HBV DNA load of 20.1IU/ml. As S-region genes in HBV, 68 cloned strains were sequenced. In the OBI and CHB groups MHR region, with a mutation rate of 3.21% (155/4828) and 0.70% (5/710). The genetic mutation rate was significantly higher in the OBI group than in the CHB group (P<0.05). The common mutation types in the MHR region were: I126T, L162R, K122E, C124R, and C147Y.Mutations at s122, s126, and s162 were associated with subgenotypes, most of which being C genotypes. The high-frequency mutation sites L162R and K122E found in this study have not been reported in previous literature. Conclusion The results of this study confirmed that MHR mutations can cause the missed detection of HBsAg, giving rise to OBI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zhicheng Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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2
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Xu S, Wu XH, Wu L, Zhai JM, Li SJ, Kou Y, Peng W, Zheng QN, Tian JH, Zhang YJ, Li JF. Systematic Optimization of Universal Real-Time Hypersensitive Fast Detection Method for HBsAg in Serum Based on SERS. Anal Chem 2024; 96:6784-6793. [PMID: 38632870 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, with HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) being a crucial marker in the clinical detection of HBV. Due to the significant harm and ease of transmission associated with HBV, HBsAg testing has become an essential part of preoperative assessments, particularly for emergency surgeries where healthcare professionals face exposure risks. Therefore, a timely and accurate detection method for HBsAg is urgently needed. In this study, a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor with a sandwich structure was developed for HBsAg detection. Leveraging the ultrasensitive and rapid detection capabilities of SERS, this sensor enables quick detection results, significantly reducing waiting times. By systematically optimizing critical factors in the detection process, such as the composition and concentration of the incubation solution as well as the modification conditions and amount of probe particles, the sensitivity of the SERS immune assay system was improved. Ultimately, the sensor achieved a sensitivity of 0.00576 IU/mL within 12 min, surpassing the clinical requirement of 0.05 IU/mL by an order of magnitude. In clinical serum assay validation, the issue of false positives was effectively addressed by adding a blocker. The final sensor demonstrated 100% specificity and sensitivity at the threshold of 0.05 IU/mL. Therefore, this study not only designed an ultrasensitive SERS sensor for detecting HBsAg in actual clinical serum samples but also provided theoretical support for similar systems, filling the knowledge gap in existing literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Xu
- College of Materials, College of Energy, College of Physical Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xiao-Hang Wu
- College of Materials, College of Energy, College of Physical Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Lin Wu
- College of Materials, College of Energy, College of Physical Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jia-Min Zhai
- College of Optical and Electronic Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Shi-Jun Li
- College of Optical and Electronic Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Yichuan Kou
- College of Materials, College of Energy, College of Physical Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Wei Peng
- College of Materials, College of Energy, College of Physical Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qing-Na Zheng
- College of Materials, College of Energy, College of Physical Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jing-Hua Tian
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yue-Jiao Zhang
- College of Materials, College of Energy, College of Physical Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jian-Feng Li
- College of Materials, College of Energy, College of Physical Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- College of Optical and Electronic Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
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3
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Cakal B, Cavus B, Atasoy A, Altunok D, Poda M, Bulakci M, Gulluoglu M, Demirci M, Sener LT, Arslan AB, Arikan M, Akyuz F. Comparison of S gene mutations in patients with occult and chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Virus Res 2022; 318:198855. [PMID: 35798213 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM This study aimed to detect mutations in the HBV S gene and evaluate their relationship to occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI). METHODS The study included 32 patients with negative serum HBsAg and HBV DNA who underwent liver biopsy due to different clinical indications defined as the OBI group and 32 patients who underwent liver biopsy due to chronic hepatitis B (CHB) as the comparison group. The HBV S gene region was amplified by Nested PCR, and Sanger sequencing was performed. RESULTS At least one amino acid (aa) mutation was detected in the major hydrophilic region (MHR) of the HBV S gene in 14/32 (43.75%) of the patients with OBI and 8/32 (25.0%) with CHB. The genotype of all patients with OBI and CHB was HBV/D. Although 9 (28.1%) of the cases with OBI had sub-genotype HBV/D3, none of the patients with CHB had sub-genotype HBV/D3. Unlike patients with CHB, L15*, D33N, Q51P, V63F, L91I, P108S, T115I, P120L, T125M, Q129H, T189I, L216F, P217L mutations were detected in the HBV S gene in OBI cases. Also, P127T aa polymorphism was frequently detected. Mutation frequency in the HBV S gene in the major hydrophilic region (MHR) was higher in patients with OBI with sub-genotypes HBV/D3 and D2 than those with HBV/D1 and those with serotype HBV/ayw3 compared to those with HBV/ayw2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Sub-genotypic-specific mutation patterns were seen in the "a" determinant region and T helper cell epitopes of HBsAg, especially in the C-terminus domain; this may be associated with OBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bulent Cakal
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Fatih, Istanbul 34093, Turkey.
| | - Bilger Cavus
- Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Alp Atasoy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Damla Altunok
- Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mehves Poda
- Department of Genetics, Aziz Sancar Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mesut Bulakci
- Department of Radiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mine Gulluoglu
- Department of Pathology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Demirci
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirklareli University, Kirklareli, Turkey
| | - Leyla Turker Sener
- Department of Biophysics Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Muzaffer Arikan
- Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies (SABITA), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Filiz Akyuz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Occult Hepatitis B Infection among Hemodialysis in Tabriz, Northwest of Iran: Prevalence and Mutations within the S Region. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2022; 2022:3838857. [PMID: 35800327 PMCID: PMC9256460 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3838857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Regardless of the extensive screening for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hemodialysis (HD) patients are still severely at the risk of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI), especially in developing countries. OBI is defined as the presence of HBV DNA with undetectable HBsAg in the liver and/or Serum. This study aims to determine the prevalence of OBI in HD patients in Tabriz Province, northwest of Iran, and inquire about the mutations in the detected HBsAg. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, ELISA method assessed serum and plasma samples of 118 HBsAg-negative patients undergoing HD treatment for HBV serological markers (HBsAg and Anti-HBc). Specific primers by nested polymerase chain reaction have been utilized to examine HBV DNA; also, direct sequencing of surface genes was carried out to characterize the viral genotypes and S gene mutations. Finally, followed by real-time PCR, the quantity of viral load in OBI-positive patients was determined. A total of 118 HD patients were included (63.6% were male and 36.4% female), with an overall mean age of 60.8 ± 12.8 years old. The prevalence of antihepatitis B core antibody (Anti-HBc) in the study population was 26.3% (31/118). Five patients (4.2%) were positive for HBV DNA and labeled OBI-positive; their plasma HBV-DNA load was less than 100 IU/ml. Following the phylogenetic analysis, the samples with OBI roughly belonged to genotype D, subtype ayw2 and only two had mutations within the S ’gene’s major hydrophilic region (MHR), including T123I, C124F, and P127T. This study reports the prevalence of OBI in the HBsAg-negative HD patients being at a rate of 4.2%, which can be a clinically vital consideration in this region. HBV serologic screening approaches need to be renewed to cover nucleic acid testing in the setting of hemodialysis and all the other high-risk groups associated with it (i.e., blood and organ donors).
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5
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Research Progress on the Mechanism of Persistent Low-Level HBsAg Expression in the Serum of Patients with Chronic HBV Infection. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:1372705. [PMID: 35465353 PMCID: PMC9020929 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1372705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Among HBV-infected persons, there is a group of people with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) showing persistently low levels of expression. The production of low-level HBsAg does not mean a good outcome of chronic HBV infection. Patients still have virus replication and sustained liver damage, and they have the potential to transmit the infection. This risk poses a challenge to clinical diagnosis and blood transfusion safety and is a major concern of experts. However, the mechanism behind persistent low-level HBsAg expression in serum is not completely clear, and complete virus clearance by the host is vital. In this review, we summarize the research progress on the mechanism behind low-level expression of HBsAg in patients with chronic HBV infection in recent years.
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6
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de Faria AC, Correa BHM, Faria LC, Vidigal PVT, Xavier MAP, Ferrari TCA. Occult hepatitis B virus infection in patients with chronic liver disease of different etiology in a Brazilian referral center: comparison of two different hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid amplification protocols: a cross-sectional study. SAO PAULO MED J 2022; 141:e2022147. [PMID: 36169566 PMCID: PMC10065104 DOI: 10.1590/1516-3180.2022.0147.r1.12072022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the liver of individuals with undetectable hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum. The actual prevalence of OBI and its clinical relevance are not yet fully understood. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of HBV DNA in liver biopsies of HBsAg-negative patients with chronic liver disease of different etiologies in a referral center in Brazil and compare two different HBV DNA amplification protocols to detect HBV. DESIGN AND SETTING This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Liver Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, between January 2016 and December 2019. METHODS HBV DNA was investigated in 104 liver biopsy samples from individuals with chronic liver disease of different etiologies, in whom HBsAg was undetectable in serum by nested-polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR), using two different protocols. RESULTS OBI, diagnosed by detecting HBV DNA using both protocols, was detected in 6.7% of the 104 individuals investigated. Both protocols showed a good reliability. CONCLUSION In addition to the differences in the prevalence of HBV infection in different regions, variations in the polymerase chain reaction technique used for HBV DNA amplification may be responsible for the large variations in the prevalence of OBI identified in different studies. There is a need for better standardization of the diagnostic methods used to diagnose this entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Coutinho de Faria
- MD, MSc. Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of
Medicine, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG),
Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Bernardo Henrique Mendes Correa
- Research Associate, Undergraduate Student, Department of
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
(UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Luciana Costa Faria
- MD, PhD. Professor Associate, Department of Internal Medicine,
Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte
(MG), Brazil
| | - Paula Vieira Teixeira Vidigal
- MD, PhD. Professor Associate, Department of Pathological
Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de
Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Marcelo Antônio Pascoal Xavier
- MD, PhD. Professor, Department of Pathological Anatomy and
Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
(UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil
| | - Teresa Cristina Abreu Ferrari
- MD, PhD. Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of
Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG),
Brazil
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7
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Navvabi N, Khadem Ansari MH, Navvabi A, Chalipa HR, Zitricky F. Comparative assessment of immunochromatography and ELISA diagnostic tests for HBsAg detection in PCR-confirmed HBV infection. REVISTA DE GASTROENTEROLOGÍA DE MÉXICO 2021; 87:176-180. [PMID: 34776394 DOI: 10.1016/j.rgmxen.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Viral hepatitis, which appears most frequently at birth or during childhood, is a disease whose transmission routes include tears, bile, sexual fluids, sweat, milk, urine, feces, and saliva. The aim of the present study was to analyze the specificity of the immunochromatographic and ELISA diagnostic tests for hepatitis B surface antigen and compare them with PCR testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study sample was made up of 140 men and 60 women referred to the Urmia Medical University hospital to undergo PCR testing for HBV diagnosis. The ELISA test was performed using the Pioneer Medicine Company kit (Tehran, Iran). RESULTS The results of the HBs-Ag rapid test and the ELISA test were compared with the PCR test. The HBs-Ag rapid test had 97% sensitivity and 91% specificity, whereas the ELISA test had 78% sensitivity and 76% specificity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION According to our results, the immunochromatographic test was accurate for diagnosing HBs-Ag in blood and the ELISA test had acceptable sensitivity and specificity, compared with PCR testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Navvabi
- Departamento de Biología de Tumor e Inmunoterapia, Facultad de Medicina de Pilsen, Universidad Charles, Praga, Czech Republic.
| | - M H Khadem Ansari
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Escuela de Medicina de Urmia, Urmia, Iran
| | - A Navvabi
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas y Tecnología, Universidad de Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - H R Chalipa
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana, Universidad Islámica Azad, Urmia, Iran
| | - F Zitricky
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Experimental, Centro Biomédico, Facultad de Medicina de Pilsen, Universidad Charles, Praga, Czech Republic
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8
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Jamshidi S, Bokharaei-Salim F, Esghaei M, Bastani MN, Garshasbi S, Chavoshpour S, Dehghani-Dehej F, Fakhim S, Khanaliha K. Occult HCV and occult HBV coinfection in Iranian human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals. J Med Virol 2020; 92:3354-3364. [PMID: 32232978 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome in liver biopsy or peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) specimens in the absence of detectable HCV-RNA in plasma of the people with or without anti-HCV antibodies has defined as occult HCV infection (OCI), whereas occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome in the absence of traceable hepatitis B surface antigen in the plasma samples of patients. The purpose of this study is to determine the presence of OBI and OCI in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. In this cross-sectional research, 190 Iranian HIV-infected individuals were enrolled from September 2015 to February 2019. All participants were tested regarding various serological markers for HCV and HBV infections. Viral RNA and DNA were extracted from plasma and PBMC specimens, and the presence of HCV-RNA in plasma and PBMC samples was tested using reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), HBV viral load was determined in plasma samples using COBAS TaqMan 48 Kit, and also the presence of the HBV-DNA in PBMC samples was tested by real-time PCR. In this study, the prevalence of OBI and OCI in HIV-infected individuals was 3.1% and 11.4%, respectively. The genotypes of HCV in the patients with OCI were as follows: 57.1% were infected with subtype 3a, 35.7% were infected with subtype 1a, and 7.1% was infected with subtype 1b. It is noteworthy that in this study, two patients (1.1%) had OCI/OBI coinfections. The present study revealed that 1.1% of Iranian HIV-infected individuals had OBI and OCI at the same time. Therefore, it seems that designing prospective surveys to determine the presence of this coinfection in HIV-infected individuals is informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sogol Jamshidi
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farah Bokharaei-Salim
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Esghaei
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Navid Bastani
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saba Garshasbi
- Vice Chancellor for Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Chavoshpour
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shahin Fakhim
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Payame Noor University, Karaj, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Khanaliha
- Research Center of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Hosseini SY, Sanaei N, Fattahi MR, Malek-Hosseini SA, Sarvari J. Association of HBsAg mutation patterns with hepatitis B infection outcome: Asymptomatic carriers versus HCC/cirrhotic patients. Ann Hepatol 2020; 18:640-645. [PMID: 31105017 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) variations suggested having some effects on infection outcome. Due to some controversial issues, the aim of this study was to compare the pattern of HBsAg variation between asymptomatic carriers and HCC/cirrhosis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 19 HCC/cirrhotic and 26 asymptomatic patients were enrolled. After viral DNA extraction, HBs gene was amplified using an in-house nested-PCR. Then, PCR products were introduced into bi-directional Sanger sequencing. The retrieved sequences were compared with references, to investigate the variation of immunologic sites, major hydrophilic region (MHR) of HBsAg as well as reverse transcriptase (RT), and also to determine genotype/subtype. RESULTS The analysis of MHR and epitopes on HBsAg showed dozens of substitution, which occurred more prevalently in I110, P120, Y134, G159, S193, Y206, S207, I208, L213 and P214 positions. However, Y134N/F/L (P=0.04) and P120T/S (P=0.009) were significantly detected in MHR and B-cell epitope of HCC/Cirrhotic group. A number of truncation-related mutations were higher in HCC/Cirrhotic group (P>0.001), albeit only C69* stop codon was statistically significant (P=0.003). In RT, some potentially resistant substitutions such as Q215S, V191I and V214A, were revealed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all of isolates belonged to genotype D, and the major serotype was ayw1. CONCLUSION The higher frequency of substitutions in MHR and immune epitopes at positions such as Y134 and P120 as well as stop codons such as C69* in HCC/cirrhotic group might candidate them as predictive factors for infection outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Y Hosseini
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Neda Sanaei
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohamad-Reza Fattahi
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Jamal Sarvari
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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10
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Poortahmasebi V, Poorebrahim M, Sadeghi A, Abazari MF, Sadredinamin M, Hasanpoor E, Jazayeri SM. Conformational analysis of hepatitis B virus surface antigen mutations among HIV-positive patients diagnosed with occult hepatitis B virus. Future Virol 2019. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2019-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Aim: We analyzed the role of mutations on the conformational structure of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among HIV-1 positive patients who were infected with occult hepatitis B. Methods: The effects of the potential impact of amino-acid substitutions on the 3D structures of the HBsAg and molecular ducking were investigated using bioinformatics software. Results: Mutations classified in seven groups in accordance with their positions in occult hepatitis B virus infection patients. Some substitutions of residues could linearize the ‘a’ determinant loops. The affinity of binding in mutant HBsAg structures to MAb 12 was lower compared with the wild ones. T123I and P127L substitutions were undergone decrease in HBsAg antigenicity. Conclusion: These findings could be beneficial for a better understanding of hepatitis B virus antigen/antibody interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahdat Poortahmasebi
- Infectious & Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Liver & Gastrointestinal Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mansour Poorebrahim
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmadreza Sadeghi
- Iranian Tissue Bank & Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad F Abazari
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrzad Sadredinamin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ermia Hasanpoor
- School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed M Jazayeri
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Hepatitis B Molecular Laboratory, Department of Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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11
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He L, Su M, Ou G, Wang L, Deng J, Zhuang H, Xiang K, Li T. The modulation of HBsAg level by sI126T is affected by additional amino acid substitutions in the S region of HBV. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 75:104006. [PMID: 31442597 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.104006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a vital serum marker for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Amino acid (AA) substitutions in small hepatitis B surface protein (SHBs) are known to affect HBsAg level. However, how the genetic backbones of SHBs sequences would affect the roles of a specific AA substitution on HBsAg level remains unclear. In this study, we found that sI126 had a very high substitution detection rate of 17.54% (40/228) in untreated chronic hepatitis B cohort with subgenotype C2 HBV infection. Among different substitution types at sI126, the sI126T (N = 28) was found to be associated with significantly lower serum HBsAg level. Clone sequencing revealed that sI126T-harboring SHBs sequences had varied genetic backbones with zero to nine additional AA substitutions. Thus, we constructed 24 HBsAg expression plasmids harboring sI126T without (plasmid 1, P1) or with (P2-P24) additional AA substitution(s) and studied them in the HepG2 cells. The HBsAg levels were determined by both ELISA and Western blot. In vitro experiments showed that P1 significantly reduced HBsAg level and its secretion (p < .05), however, P2-P24 showed various extracellular and intracellular HBsAg levels. No significant differences were detected among the HBsAg mRNA levels of nine representative mutant plasmids. Our findings suggest that the modulation of HBsAg level by sI126T is affected by additional AA substitution(s) in the S region of HBV. The effects of AA combination substitutions in SHBs sequences on HBsAg levels are worthwhile for more attentions in terms of HBV biology and its clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyuan He
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mingze Su
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Guomin Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Luwei Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Juan Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Kuanhui Xiang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Xueyuan Road 38, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
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12
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Inoue J, Nakamura T, Masamune A. Roles of Hepatitis B Virus Mutations in the Viral Reactivation after Immunosuppression Therapies. Viruses 2019; 11:v11050457. [PMID: 31109119 PMCID: PMC6563158 DOI: 10.3390/v11050457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major problem in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant diseases or immunosuppression therapies. It has been thought that a reduction in the immune responses might result in the reactivation of HBV replication from covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) residing in hepatocytes. However, not only the host’s immune status, but also viral mutations have been reported to be associated with reactivation. Especially, several case reports about amino acid mutations in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) that escape from immune reactions have been reported, and recent reports showed that the frequencies of such mutations are higher than previously expected. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of viral mutations, including immune escape mutations in HBV-reactivated patients, and discuss their significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Inoue
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.
| | - Takuya Nakamura
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Masamune
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.
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13
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Javanmard D, Namaei MH, Farahmand M, Ziaee A, Amini E, Ziaee M. Molecular and serological characterization of occult hepatitis B virus infection among patients with hemophilia. J Med Virol 2019; 91:1519-1527. [PMID: 30908666 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is a health concern among high-risk groups and immunosuppressed individuals. There is still a paucity of data regarding the occult hepatitis B virus infection among hemophilic patients. With this in mind, we aimed to evaluate the molecular prevalence of OBI among clients with hemophilia. METHODS Totally, 87 hemophilic patients were selected to be studied. To detect OBI, nested polymerase chain reaction test was used to amplify HBV-S, X, and Core regions. Viral load was determined using an in-house real-time PCR assay. Finally, sequence of S gene was used for genotyping and analysis of mutations. RESULTS The mean age of patients was 28.4 ± 5.3 years old, with 90.7% of whom were men. HBV-DNA was detected in eight subjects (9.3%). The rate of OBI was much higher in anti-HBs seronegative subjects than that in other patients (P = 0.019). All OBI cases had HBV genotype D, subgenotype D1. In addition, five out of eight cases (62.5%) showed detectable viral loads (a mean viral load of 4.5 × 10 2 copies/mL). sR73H, sI110L, sP120A, sP127T, sQ129H, sG130R, and sC137S were shown to be the most determinant escape mutation and OBI-relevant mutants. CONCLUSION The rate of OBI among the studied population of hemophilia seems to be remarkable. Therefore, screening for OBI must be a routine practice in patients with hemophilia and also patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatments. Amino acid substitutions were observed in the major hydrophilic region. However further investigations are needed for analysis of exact function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davod Javanmard
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.,Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hasan Namaei
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Mohammad Farahmand
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arash Ziaee
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Elham Amini
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Masood Ziaee
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
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14
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Azarkar Z, Ziaee M, Ebrahimzadeh A, Sharifzadeh G, Javanmard D. Epidemiology, risk factors, and molecular characterization of occult hepatitis B infection among anti-hepatitis B core antigen alone subjects. J Med Virol 2018; 91:615-622. [PMID: 30345529 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Features of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among the anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) positives have yet to be described in more details. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of occult HBV infection (OBI), and association to risk factors among seropositives for anti-HBc. METHODS This was part of a community-based screening project that included 5234 cases. All participants completed a questionnaire on demographic and socio-epidemiological information. Then, the blood samples were collected and tested for anti-HBc and HBsAg using ELISA method. To identify OBI, nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were performed for HBV-S and X genes, and viral load was determined using an in-house real-time PCR. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis have been implemented for genotyping. RESULTS Overall, 596 cases, positive only for anti-HBc were included in the study. OBI was detected among 61 cases (10.2%). The genotype and subgenotype of HBV among all of them was D1, except one that was D4. Most of them had low viral loads ranged from 1.2 × 102 to 1.34 × 10 3 copies/mL; 19.6% had undetectable viral loads. Important mutations in surface protein and reverse transcriptase were sI92T, sQ129H, rtL80I, rtS85F, rtL91I. The prevalence of OBI was related to some risk factors, such as tattooing (P = 0.02), sexual activities (P = 0.009), and diabetes (P = 0.031). CONCLUSION Our study suggests that OBI should be considered among anti-HBc seropositive subjects. This form of HBV infection was accompanied with some mutations, risk factors, and diseases. However, further investigations are needed to determine virological importance of documented mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Azarkar
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Masood Ziaee
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Azadeh Ebrahimzadeh
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Sharifzadeh
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Davod Javanmard
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.,Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Tajik Z, Bokharaei-Salim F, Ghorbani S, Keyvani H, Esghaei M, Monavari SH, Ataei-Pirkooh A, Garshasbi S, Donyavi T, Fakhim A. Detection of HBV genome in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Iranian HBsAg negative patients with HIV infection: occult HBV infection. Arch Virol 2018; 163:1559-1566. [PMID: 29476259 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-018-3740-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the absence of traceable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the plasma specimen of patients is defined as occult HBV infection (OBI). This study aimed to detect HBV-DNA in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Iranian HBsAg negative patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 172 patients with HIV infection from September 2015 to August 2017. The patients were tested for serological parameters (HBsAg, HBcAb, HBeAg and HBeAb) against HBV infection. Moreover, they were tested for HBV viral load (using COBAS TaqMan 48 Kit, Roche, USA) in plasma and the presence of the HBV genome in PBMC specimens using real-time PCR. The mean age of the patients was 35.4 ± 13.4 years. Of the 172 studied patients, 109 (63.4%) were male. In this study, 151 (87.8%) patients were negative for HBsAg, 111 (64.5%) patients were negative for all HBV infection serological markers, 9 (5.2%) patients were only positive for HBsAg and 29 (16.9%) patients were only positive for HBcAb. Moreover, five (3.3%) patients with HBsAg negative had OBI (in the plasma sample of four patients and PBMC specimens of all five patients, HBV-DNA was detected). The present study revealed that 3.3% of the patients with HIV infection had occult HBV infection. Presumably, designing prospective studies to identify this infection in patients with HIV infection is informative and valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Tajik
- HIV Laboratory of National Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farah Bokharaei-Salim
- HIV Laboratory of National Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saied Ghorbani
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Keyvani
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Esghaei
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Angila Ataei-Pirkooh
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saba Garshasbi
- HIV Laboratory of National Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Donyavi
- HIV Laboratory of National Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atousa Fakhim
- Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
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16
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Diagnostic accuracy of tests to detect hepatitis B surface antigen: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:698. [PMID: 29143619 PMCID: PMC5688498 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2772-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is characterised by the persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Expanding HBV diagnosis and treatment programmes into low resource settings will require high quality but inexpensive rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in addition to laboratory-based enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to detect HBsAg. The purpose of this review is to assess the clinical accuracy of available diagnostic tests to detect HBsAg to inform recommendations on testing strategies in 2017 WHO hepatitis testing guidelines. METHODS The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using 9 databases. Two reviewers independently extracted data according to a pre-specified plan and evaluated study quality. Meta-analysis was performed. HBsAg diagnostic accuracy of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) was compared to enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and nucleic-acid test (NAT) reference standards. Subanalyses were performed to determine accuracy among brands, HIV-status and specimen type. RESULTS Of the 40 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 33 compared RDTs and/or EIAs against EIAs and 7 against NATs as reference standards. Thirty studies assessed diagnostic accuracy of 33 brands of RDTs in 23,716 individuals from 23 countries using EIA as the reference standard. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 90.0% (95% CI: 89.1, 90.8) and 99.5% (95% CI: 99.4, 99.5) respectively, but accuracy varied widely among brands. Accuracy did not differ significantly whether serum, plasma, venous or capillary whole blood was used. Pooled sensitivity of RDTs in 5 studies of HIV-positive persons was lower at 72.3% (95% CI: 67.9, 76.4) compared to that in HIV-negative persons, but specificity remained high. Five studies evaluated 8 EIAs against a chemiluminescence immunoassay reference standard with a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 88.9% (95% CI: 87.0, 90.6) and 98.4% (95% CI: 97.8, 98.8), respectively. Accuracy of both RDTs and EIAs using a NAT reference were generally lower, especially amongst HIV-positive cohorts. CONCLUSIONS HBsAg RDTs have good sensitivity and excellent specificity compared to laboratory immunoassays as a reference standard. Sensitivity of HBsAg RDTs may be lower in HIV infected individuals.
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17
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Huang X, Ma C, Zhang Q, Shi Q, Huang T, Liu C, Li J, Hollinger FB. Impact of "a" determinant mutations on detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in HBV strains from Chinese patients with occult hepatitis B. J Med Virol 2017; 89:1796-1803. [PMID: 28513915 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to detect mutations that occur within the "a" determinant in the S gene of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients with occult hepatitis B (OHB), and to analyze the influence of these mutations on expression and reactivity of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Twenty-three certified OHB samples were compared to 32 HBsAg positive samples from patients with chronic hepatitis B. The median HBV DNA levels in the OHB group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.0001). Mutations within the "a" determinant were analyzed by gene amplification and sequencing. This revealed mixed infections in which clones within a sample displayed either different mutations or mutations in association with clones that exhibited wild type amino acid patterns. Sequencing analysis also showed a significant difference between the proportions of amino acid mutations observed in the OHB and control groups. Seven recombinant S (rS) proteins with corresponding OHB mutations and three wild type alleles were expressed and purified in the Pichia pastoris expression system to preserve conformational attributes, and their reactivity analyzed using six commercial HBsAg assays. The OHB sera were HBsAg nonreactive while the rS proteins with corresponding OHB mutations were universally reactive. Thus, we postulate that the reduced binding affinity between mutated HBsAg and its antibody may not be as important in defining OHB as is the effect of specific mutations in the preS/S region of the genome that affect the synthesis and secretion of the S protein and/or the virion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyan Huang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan, P. R. China
| | - Chenyun Ma
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan, P. R. China
| | - Qingfen Shi
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Jinan Infectious Disease Hospital, Jinan, P. R. China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Viral Diseases, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, P. R. China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan, P. R. China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan, P. R. China
| | - F Blaine Hollinger
- Departments of Molecular Virology and Microbiology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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