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Lehmann F, Slanina H, Roderfeld M, Roeb E, Trebicka J, Ziebuhr J, Gerlich WH, Schüttler CG, Schlevogt B, Glebe D. A Novel Insertion in the Hepatitis B Virus Surface Protein Leading to Hyperglycosylation Causes Diagnostic and Immune Escape. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040838. [PMID: 37112819 PMCID: PMC10144012 DOI: 10.3390/v15040838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health threat. Mutations in the surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg) may alter its antigenicity, infectivity, and transmissibility. A patient positive for HBV DNA and detectable but low-level HBsAg in parallel with anti-HBs suggested the presence of immune and/or diagnostic escape variants. To support this hypothesis, serum-derived HBs gene sequences were amplified and cloned for sequencing, which revealed infection with exclusively non-wildtype HBV subgenotype (sgt) D3. Three distinct mutations in the antigenic loop of HBsAg that caused additional N-glycosylation were found in the variant sequences, including a previously undescribed six-nucleotide insertion. Cellular and secreted HBsAg was analyzed for N-glycosylation in Western blot after expression in human hepatoma cells. Secreted HBsAg was also subjected to four widely used, state-of-the-art diagnostic assays, which all failed to detect the hyperglycosylated insertion variant. Additionally, the recognition of mutant HBsAg by vaccine- and natural infection-induced anti-HBs antibodies was severely impaired. Taken together, these data suggest that the novel six-nucleotide insertion as well as two other previously described mutations causing hyperglycosylation in combination with immune escape mutations have a critical impact on in vitro diagnostics and likely increase the risk of breakthrough infection by evasion of vaccine-induced immunity.
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Husseini AA, Islam Saeed KM, Yurdcu E, Bozdayı AM. Molecular epidemiology of Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, and Hepatitis D virus in general population of Afghanistan. TURKISH JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2020; 31:658-666. [PMID: 33090103 DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2020.19169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS This study gives a clue about genotypes, subgenotypes and subtypes of HBV, HCV and HDV viruses in general population of Afghanistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 234 HBsAg, 44 anti-HCV and 5 Anti-Delta positive patients belong to 25-70 age group were obtained through a rapid screening test among 5898 residents of Afghanistan. After quantifying viral load, genotyping of 61 HBV, 29 HCV and 1 HDV samples were accomplished by sequencing of a segment of the HBV Pre S, HCV NS5B, and HDV Delta antigen regions respectively. Clinically important variants of the HBV polymerase gene, the "a" determinant of HBsAg, HCV NS5B and NS3 regions were assessed. RESULTS All HBV isolates were dispersed throughout the genotype D branch and ayw2 was the only subtypes found. The anti-HDV prevalence among HBsAg positive individuals was 2.2% and the single HDV sample, belonged to HDV genotype I. Analysis of HCV isolates revealed subtype HCV-1b in 75.86%, HCV-3a in 20.69% and HCV-3b in 3.44% patients. The observed mutant variants in the MHR of HBsAg were Y100 15%, Q101 5%, G102 15%, T115 45%, P120 5%, T131 5%. Likewise, S213T 10%, Q215P 5% and N248H 100% mutations were detected in the HBV polymerase region. C316N mutation was prevalent in 72.7% of HCV 1b participants. CONCLUSION Genotypic variation in Afghan patients is in line with the ones existing in neighboring countries and regions. HBV genotypes D1, subtype ayw2, HDV RNA type I, and HCV RNA genotype 1b are likely to be dominant in Afghan patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Ali Husseini
- Institute of Hepatology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Khwaja Mir Islam Saeed
- Grant and Service Contract Management Unit (GCMU), Ministry of Public Health, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Esra Yurdcu
- Institute of Hepatology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - A Mithat Bozdayı
- Institute of Hepatology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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Anderson M, Choga WT, Moyo S, Bell TG, Mbangiwa T, Phinius BB, Bhebhe L, Sebunya TK, Makhema J, Marlink R, Kramvis A, Essex M, Musonda RM, Blackard JT, Gaseitsiwe S. In Silico Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus Occult Associated Mutations in Botswana Using a Novel Algorithm. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9090420. [PMID: 30134551 PMCID: PMC6162659 DOI: 10.3390/genes9090420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Occult hepatitis B infections (OBI) represent a reservoir of undiagnosed and untreated hepatitis B virus (HBV), hence the need to identify mutations that lead to this phenotype. Functionally characterizing these mutations by in vitro studies is time-consuming and expensive. To bridge this gap, in silico approaches, which predict the effect of amino acid (aa) variants on HBV protein function, are necessary. We developed an algorithm for determining the relevance of OBI-associated mutations using in silico approaches. A 3 kb fragment of subgenotypes A1 and D3 from 24 chronic HBV-infected (CHB) and 24 OBI participants was analyzed. To develop and validate the algorithm, the effects of 68 previously characterized occult-associated mutations were determined using three computational tools: PolyPhen2, SNAP2, and PROVEAN. The percentage of deleterious mutations (with impact on protein function) predicted were 52 (76.5%) by PolyPhen2, 55 (80.9%) by SNAP2, and 65 (95.6%) by PROVEAN. At least two tools correctly predicted 59 (86.8%) mutations as deleterious. To identify OBI-associated mutations exclusive to Botswana, study sequences were compared to CHB sequences from GenBank. Of the 43 OBI-associated mutations identified, 26 (60.5%) were predicted by at least two tools to have an impact on protein function. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use in silico approaches to determine the impact of OBI-associated mutations, thereby identifying potential candidates for functional analysis to facilitate mechanistic studies of the OBI phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motswedi Anderson
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
| | | | - Sikhulile Moyo
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Trevor Graham Bell
- Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit (HVDRU), Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa.
| | - Tshepiso Mbangiwa
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
| | - Bonolo B Phinius
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
| | - Lynette Bhebhe
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
| | - Theresa K Sebunya
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
| | - Joseph Makhema
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Richard Marlink
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
- Rutgers Global Health Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Anna Kramvis
- Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit (HVDRU), Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa.
| | - Max Essex
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | | | - Jason T Blackard
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
| | - Simani Gaseitsiwe
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Temporal trend of hepatitis B surface mutations in the post-immunization period: 9 years of surveillance (2005-2013) in eastern China. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6669. [PMID: 28751727 PMCID: PMC5532365 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07085-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Limited information is available about the temporal trend in the prevalence and evolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) S-gene mutations in the post-immunization era in China. From 2005 to 2013, 1077 hepatitis B cases under 15 years of age reported through Chinese National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS) were successfully sequenced of S-gene in Shandong province, China. A total of 97 (9.01%) cases had amino acid (aa) substitution in the “α” determinant of HBsAg. The yearly prevalence from 2005 to 2013 maintained at a relatively stable level, and showed no significant change (P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the prevalence of “α” mutations was independently associated with the maternal HBsAg status (P < 0.05), and not with surveillance year and hepatitis B vaccination (P > 0.05). The hottest mutation position was aa126 (I126S/N and T126A, 29.63%), and aa 145 (G145R/A, 25.93%). Mutated residue 126 tended to occur less frequent, while that of residue 145 was more frequent with increasing year. Our data showed that there was no increase in the frequency of HBV “α” mutations over time during the post-immunization period. However, long-term vaccination might enhance the change of HBV mutational pattern, and G145 mutation was becoming dominant.
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Fu X, Chen J, Chen H, Lin J, Xun Z, Li S, Liu C, Zeng Y, Chen T, Yang B, Ou Q. Mutation in the S gene of hepatitis B virus and anti-HBs subtype-nonspecificity contributed to the co-existence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Med Virol 2017; 89:1419-1426. [PMID: 28198078 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 12/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Fu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- First Clinical College; Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Huijuan Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Jinpiao Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Zhen Xun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- First Clinical College; Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Shiqi Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- First Clinical College; Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Can Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Yongbin Zeng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Tianbin Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Bin Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
| | - Qishui Ou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; Fuzhou China
- The Genetic Diagonstic Laboratory; The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University; China
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Datta S, Chakravarty R. Role of RNA secondary structure in emergence of compartment specific hepatitis B virus immune escape variants. World J Virol 2016; 5:161-169. [PMID: 27878103 PMCID: PMC5105049 DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v5.i4.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the role of subgenotype specific RNA secondary structure in the compartment specific selection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) immune escape mutations.
METHODS This study was based on the analysis of the specific observation of HBV subgenotype A1 in the serum/plasma, while subgenotype A2 with G145R mutation in the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). Genetic variability found among the two subgenotypes was used for prediction and comparison of the full length pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) secondary structure and base pairings. RNA secondary structures were predicted for 37 °C using the Vienna RNA fold server, using default parameters. Visualization and detailed analysis was done using RNA shapes program.
RESULTS In this analysis, using similar algorithm and conditions, entirely different pgRNA secondary structures for subgenotype A1 and subgenotype A2 were predicted, suggesting different base pairing patterns within the two subgenotypes of genotype A, specifically, in the HBV genetic region encoding the major hydrophilic loop. We observed that for subgenotype A1 specific pgRNA, nucleotide 358U base paired with 1738A and nucleotide 587G base paired with 607C. However in sharp contrast, in subgenotype A2 specific pgRNA, nucleotide 358U was opposite to nucleotide 588G, while 587G was opposite to 359U, hence precluding correct base pairing and thereby lesser stability of the stem structure. When the nucleotides at 358U and 587G were replaced with 358C and 587A respectively (as observed specifically in the PBL associated A2 sequences), these nucleotides base paired correctly with 588G and 359U, respectively.
CONCLUSION The results of this study show that compartment specific mutations are associated with HBV subgenotype specific alterations in base pairing of the pgRNA, leading to compartment specific selection and preponderance of specific HBV subgenotype with unique mutational pattern.
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Powell EA, Boyce CL, Gededzha MP, Selabe SG, Mphahlele MJ, Blackard JT. Functional analysis of 'a' determinant mutations associated with occult HBV in HIV-positive South Africans. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:1615-1624. [PMID: 27031988 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Occult hepatitis B is defined by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Occult HBV is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, reactivation during immune suppression, and virus transmission. Viral mutations contribute significantly to the occult HBV phenotype. Mutations in the 'a' determinant of HBsAg are of particular interest, as these mutations are associated with immune escape, vaccine escape and diagnostic failure. We examined the effects of selected occult HBV-associated mutations identified in a population of HIV-positive South Africans on HBsAg production in vitro. Mutations were inserted into two different chronic HBV backbones and transfected into a hepatocyte-derived cell line. HBsAg levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the detectability of mutant HBsAg was determined using an HA-tagged HBsAg expression system. Of the seven mutations analysed, four (S132P, C138Y, N146D and C147Y) resulted in decreased HBsAg expression in one viral background but not in the second viral background. One mutation (N146D) led to a decrease in HBsAg detected as compared to HA-tag, indicating that this mutation compromises the ability of the ELISA to detect HBsAg. The contribution of occult-associated mutations to the HBsAg-negative phenotype of occult HBV cannot be determined adequately by testing the effect of the mutation in a single viral background, and rigorous analysis of these mutations is required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - M Jeffrey Mphahlele
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University; South Africa Medical Research Council
| | - Jason T Blackard
- Division of Digestive Diseases ML 0595 231 Albert Sabin Way, University of Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, USA
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Zhang YL, Cheng T, Cai YJ, Yuan Q, Liu C, Zhang T, Xia DZ, Li RY, Yang LW, Wang YB, Yeo AET, Shih JWK, Zhang J, Xia NS. RNA Interference inhibits hepatitis B virus of different genotypes in vitro and in vivo. BMC Microbiol 2010; 10:214. [PMID: 20696079 PMCID: PMC2927532 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-10-214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2010] [Accepted: 08/10/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection increases the risk of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) can be a potential new tool for HBV therapy. Given the high heterogeneity of HBV strains and the sensitivity towards sequences changes of siRNA, finding a potent siRNA inhibitor against the conservative site on the HBV genome is essential to ensure a therapeutic application. Results Forty short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmids were constructed to target conserved regions among nine HBV genotypes. HBV 1.3-fold genome plasmids carrying various genotypes were co-transfected with shRNA plasmids into either Huh7 cells or mice. The levels of various viral markers were examined to assess the anti-HBV efficacy of siRNA. Four (B245, B376, B1581 and B1789) were found with the ability to potently inhibit HBV RNA, DNA, surface antigen (HBsAg), e antigen (HBeAg) and core antigen (HBcAg) expression in HBV genotypes A, B, C, D and I (a newly identified genotype) in Huh7 cells and in mice. No unusual cytotoxicity or off-target effects were noted. Conclusions Such siRNA suggests an alternate way of inhibiting various HBV genotypes in vitro and in vivo, promising advances in the treatment of HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Li Zhang
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
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Differential impact of immune escape mutations G145R and P120T on the replication of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus e antigen-positive and -negative strains. J Virol 2009; 84:1026-33. [PMID: 19889778 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01796-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune escape variants of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) represent an emerging clinical challenge, because they can be associated with vaccine escape, HBV reactivation, and failure of diagnostic tests. Recent data suggest a preferential selection of immune escape mutants in distinct peripheral blood leukocyte compartments of infected individuals. We therefore systematically analyzed the functional impact of the most prevalent immune escape variants, the sG145R and sP120T mutants, on the viral replication efficacy and antiviral drug susceptibility of common treatment-associated mutants with resistance to lamivudine (LAM) and/or HBeAg negativity. Replication-competent HBV strains with sG145R or sP120T and LAM resistance (rtM204I or rtL180M/rtM204V) were generated on an HBeAg-positive and an HBeAg-negative background with precore (PC) and basal core promoter (BCP) mutants. The sG145R mutation strongly reduced HBsAg levels and was able to fully restore the impaired replication of LAM-resistant HBV mutants to the levels of wild-type HBV, and PC or BCP mutations further enhanced viral replication. Although the sP120T substitution also impaired HBsAg secretion, it did not enhance the replication of LAM-resistant clones. However, the concomitant occurrence of HBeAg negativity (PC/BCP), sP120T, and LAM resistance resulted in the restoration of replication to levels of wild-type HBV. In all clones with combined immune escape and LAM resistance mutations, the nucleotide analogues adefovir and tenofovir remained effective in suppressing viral replication in vitro. These findings reveal the differential impact of immune escape variants on the replication and drug susceptibility of complex HBV mutants, supporting the need of close surveillance and treatment adjustment in response to the selection of distinct mutational patterns.
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Genetic characterization of hepatitis B virus in peripheral blood leukocytes: evidence for selection and compartmentalization of viral variants with the immune escape G145R mutation. J Virol 2009; 83:9983-92. [PMID: 19420079 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01905-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The compartmentalization of viral variants in distinct host tissues is a frequent event in many viral infections. Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) classically is considered hepatotropic, it has strong lymphotropic properties as well. However, unlike other viruses, molecular evolutionary studies to characterize HBV variants in compartments other than hepatocytes or sera have not been performed. The present work attempted to characterize HBV sequences from the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of a large set of subjects, using advanced molecular biology and computational methods. The results of this study revealed the exclusive compartmentalization of HBV subgenotype Ae/A2-specific sequences with a potent immune escape G145R mutation in the PBL of the majority of the subjects. Interestingly, entirely different HBV genotypes/subgenotypes (C, D, or Aa/A1) were found to predominate in the sera of the same study populations. These results suggest that subgenotype Ae/A2 is selectively archived in the PBL, and the high prevalence of G145R indicates high immune pressure and high evolutionary rates of HBV DNA in the PBL. The results are analogous to available literature on the compartmentalization of other viruses. The present work thus provides evidence in favor of the compartment-specific abundance, evolution, and emergence of the potent immune escape mutant. These findings have important implications in the field of HBV molecular epidemiology, transmission, transfusion medicine, organ transplantation, and vaccination strategies.
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Henke-Gendo C, Amini-Bavil-Olyaee S, Challapalli D, Trautwein C, Deppe H, Schulz TF, Heim A, Tacke F. Symptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation despite reduced viral fitness is associated with HBV test and immune escape mutations in an HIV-coinfected patient. J Infect Dis 2008; 198:1620-4. [PMID: 18847320 DOI: 10.1086/592987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Two sequential hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains obtained before and during an icteric flare-up of an occult HBV infection in a patient coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus revealed HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) test escape mutations, although the patient had never received hepatitis B-specific immunoglobulin. In contrast to the high HBV DNA loads, recurrence of HBsAg, and resulting icteric hepatitis, phenotypic analysis of the mutated HBV strains revealed significantly reduced replication efficacies in vitro, compared with wild-type HBV. Therefore, immune escape in the transiently anti-HBs-positive patient appeared to be crucial for persistence and reactivation. Immune escape mutants evolved even without exogenous selective pressure, hampered detection in HBsAg screening, and might be transmitted during reactivation with high HBV loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Henke-Gendo
- Institute of Virology, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, Hannover, Germany
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