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Chen H, Luo S, Lu W, Chen Z, Chen J, Zheng S, Yu J. Serum protein expression patterns in detecting a new viral protein in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. J Viral Hepat 2019; 26 Suppl 1:90-97. [PMID: 31380583 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
We analysed the changes in viral protein expression in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In total, 160 samples were obtained from individuals infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and divided into four groups. Group A included 71 cases of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative CHB, Group B included 58 cases of inactive seroconverters and Group C included 31 cases of HBeAg-positive CHB. Group D included 22 normal healthy individuals as a control. All serum samples were examined using surface enhance laser desorption/ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). The results indicated that a peak with 4140 m/z increased markedly in Group A at 1295.55 ± 745.87, which was significantly different from that in Group B at 896.99 ± 534.86 (P = 0.013). This peak indicated a close relationship with HBV DNA replication and may contribute to pathogenesis of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huguang Chen
- Infectious Diseases Department,, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shuya Luo
- Binjiang Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weili Lu
- Infectious Diseases Department, The People's Hospital of Quzhou, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiamin Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shu Zheng
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiekai Yu
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Seed CR. Value of retaining HBsAg donor screening where HBV NAT and anti-HBc donor screening apply. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/voxs.12368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. R. Seed
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service; Perth Australia
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Niederhauser C. Reducing the risk of hepatitis B virus transfusion-transmitted infection. J Blood Med 2011; 2:91-102. [PMID: 22287868 PMCID: PMC3262354 DOI: 10.2147/jbm.s12899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Before 1970, approximately 6% of multi-transfused recipients acquired a transfusion-transmitted Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The safety improvements since then have been tremendous. From a level of a few infections per 1000 donations, the risk today, depending on the screening algorithm and additional measurements performed, has decreased to around 1:500,000 to 1:1,000,000, an improvement greater than 1000-fold compared to 50 years ago. This enormous gain in safety has been achieved through many factors, including development of increasingly more sensitive Hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) assays; the adoption in some countries of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) screening; an improved donor selection procedure; HBV vaccination programs; and finally the introduction of HBV nucleic acid testing (NAT). Because there is a tendency in transfusion medicine to add one safety measure on top of another to approach the ultimate goal of zero risks, costs become increasingly a matter of debate. It is obvious that any new measure in addition to existing methods or measures will have very poor cost effectiveness. Therefore each country needs to perform its own calculation based on the country’s own epidemiology, resources, political and public awareness of the risks, in order to choose the correct and most cost-efficient measures. Ideally, each country would make decisions regarding implementation of additional blood safety measures in the context of both the perceived benefit and the allocation of overall health care resources.
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Sawke NG, Sawke G. Preventing Post-Transfusion Hepatitis by screening blood donors for IgM Antibody to Hepatitis B core antigen. J Glob Infect Dis 2011; 2:246-7. [PMID: 20927286 PMCID: PMC2946681 DOI: 10.4103/0974-777x.68526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nilima G Sawke
- Department of Pathology, People's College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Hook's effect - a rare presentation in HBsAg screening. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 2009; 25:27-9. [PMID: 23100968 DOI: 10.1007/s12288-009-0006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2008] [Accepted: 08/06/2008] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of Hook's effect, the false negative results in HBs Ag immunoassay screening. Two drops of donor's serum was added to the sample well of hepacard device using a dropper and was allowed to react for 20 minutes and results read thereafter. The hepacard device when read after 20 minutes showed only one distinct pink test line and no control line. Serial dilutions (1:10, 1: 20) of the donors sample in normal saline was done and the test was re-run. Sample in 1: 10 dilution showed both control and faint pink test line, which intensified to pink band in 1: 20 diluted sample. The goal in the immunoassay detection of HBsAg should be to minimize erroneous results; so as not to endanger patient health and the blood supply.
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Arabaci F, Oldacay M. Investigation of Mutant Hepatitis B Virus in Core Antibody Seropositive Cases of Blood Donor Population. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2008. [DOI: 10.3923/jms.2008.316.320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Komiya Y, Katayama K, Yugi H, Mizui M, Matsukura H, Tomoguri T, Miyakawa Y, Tabuchi A, Tanaka J, Yoshizawa H. Minimum infectious dose of hepatitis B virus in chimpanzees and difference in the dynamics of viremia between genotype A and genotype C. Transfusion 2007; 48:286-94. [PMID: 18028278 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01522.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In planning optimal hepatitis B virus (HBV) blood screening strategies, the minimum infectious dose and early dynamics of HBV need to be determined for defining the window period for HBV DNA as well as for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Pairs of chimpanzees were inoculated with preacute-phase inocula containing HBV of genotype A or genotype C to determine the minimum infectious dose, and two pairs of chimps infected with the lowest infectious dose of genotypes A and C were followed for HBV markers. RESULTS The minimum 50 percent chimpanzee infectious dose (CID50) was estimated to be approximately 10 copies for genotype A and for genotype C. In the two chimps inoculated with the lowest infectious dose, the HBV DNA window was 55 to 76 days for genotype A and 35 to 50 days for genotype C, respectively. The HBsAg window was 69 to 97 days for genotype A and 50 to 64 days for genotype C, respectively. The doubling times of HBV DNA were 3.4 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-4.9 days) for genotype A and 1.9 days (95% CI, 1.6-2.3 days) for genotype C. When comparing the replication velocity of HBV DNA between the two genotypes, the doubling time of genotype C was significantly shorter than that of HBV genotype A (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Although the CID50 of approximately 10 copies was similar for the two HBV genotypes, the doubling time and pre-HBV nucleic acid amplification technology (<100 copies/mL) window period in chimps infected with the lowest infectious dose seemed to be shorter for genotype C than for genotype A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Komiya
- Department of Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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O'Brien SF, Fearon MA, Yi QL, Fan W, Scalia V, Muntz IR, Vamvakas EC. Hepatitis B virus DNA-positive, hepatitis B surface antigen-negative blood donations intercepted by anti-hepatitis B core antigen testing: the Canadian Blood Services experience. Transfusion 2007; 47:1809-15. [PMID: 17880605 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01396.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The benefit of introducing anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) screening for intercepting potentially infectious donations missed by hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening in Canada was studied. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Anti-HBc testing of all donations was implemented in April 2005, along with antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA supplemental testing of anti-HBc repeat-reactive, HBsAg-negative donations. The proportion of potentially infectious donations intercepted by anti-HBc over the initial 18 months of testing was calculated based on three assumptions relating infectivity of HBV DNA-positive units to anti-HBs levels. Lookback was conducted for all DNA-positive donations. RESULTS Of 493,344 donors, 5,585 (1.13%) were repeat-reactive for the presence of anti-HBc, with 29 (0.52%) being HBV DNA-positive and HBsAg-negative. The proportion of potentially infectious donations intercepted by anti-HBc screening was 1 in 17,800 if all HBV DNA-positive donations were infectious, 1 in 26,900 if infectivity was limited to donations with an anti-HBs level of not more than 100 mIU per mL, and 1 in 69,300 if only donations with undetectable anti-HBs were infectious. For 279 components in the lookback study, no traced recipients were HBsAg-positive and 7 recipients were anti-HBc-reactive in association with 4 donors, 3 of whom had an anti-HBs level of more than 100 mIU per mL and 1 of whom had a level of 61 mIU per mL. CONCLUSION Implementation of anti-HBc screening reduced the risk of transfusing potentially infectious units by at least as much as had been expected based on the literature. The lookback did not provide proof of transfusion transmission of HBV from HBV DNA-positive, anti-HBc-reactive, HBsAg-negative donors but it did not establish lack of transmission either.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O'Brien
- National Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. sheila.o'
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Yoshikawa A, Gotanda Y, Minegishi K, Taira R, Hino S, Tadokoro K, Ohnuma H, Miyakawa K, Tachibana K, Mizoguchi H. Lengths of hepatitis B viremia and antigenemia in blood donors: preliminary evidence of occult (hepatitis B surface antigen-negative) infection in the acute stage. Transfusion 2007; 47:1162-71. [PMID: 17581150 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01234.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Japanese Red Cross (JRC) implemented a fully automated pooling and nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) system for testing seronegative donations. The JRC sample repository and repeat blood donations allowed for lookback and follow-up studies of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-positive donors, who tested negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis B core antigen in the JRC screening system. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS From February 1, 2000, to March 31, 2003, 17,314,486 units were tested in 50-sample pools with a semiautomated multiplex assay system (AMPLINAT MPX test, Roche). During this period, 328 HBV DNA-positive donations were found. From 26 of these donors, sequential samples were available at short intervals. This enabled us to examine the dynamics of viral markers in acute HBV infection. The length of detectable periods of plasma viremia and antigenemia were estimated by regression analysis from the results obtained in the quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay (JRC) and HBsAg enzyme immunoassay (Auszyme II, AxSYM, Abbott) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (Abbott). RESULTS The median length of detectable HBV DNA in individual donation and 20-sample minipool (MP) NAT format was estimated to be 74 and 50 days, respectively, whereas the median length of detectable HBsAg was estimated to be 42 days. Six of the 26 donors were infected with mutant viruses, and 3 of these 6 donors did not develop detectable HBsAg during the entire observation period, despite a moderately high viral load of 10(4) to 10(5) HBV DNA copies per mL. CONCLUSION Transmission of mutant virus may cause occult HBV infection in the acute stage. HBV NAT, even in MP configuration, is more effective than HBsAg testing and capable of interdicting infected donors in the pre- and post-HBsAg window periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yoshikawa
- Japanese Red Cross Saitama Blood Center, Hidaka-shi, Saitama-ken 350-1213, Japan.
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10
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McDonald CP. Bacterial risk reduction by improved donor arm disinfection, diversion and bacterial screening. Transfus Med 2007; 16:381-96. [PMID: 17163869 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3148.2006.00697.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The Interventions of improved donor arm disinfection, diversion and bacterial screening have been implemented by blood services and shown to have substantial benefit. The major source of bacterial contamination is donor arm derived. Blood services are now introducing best practice donor arm disinfection techniques. Diversion has been shown to substantially reduce bacterial contamination in the order of 40-88%. Diversion, together with improved donor arm disinfection, has shown to improve the percentage of reduction in contamination from 47% to 77%. Residual contamination levels after the Introduction of diversion and improved donor arm disinfection may be in the order of 30-40%. Numerous countries have now implemented screen testing programmes for platelet concentrates, which are the major source of bacterial transfusion transmission. Pathogen reduction systems have been developed and are under development. At present, concerns remain with these systems regarding cost, process control, ability to inactivate high titres of viruses, killing of bacterial spores, product damage, genotoxicity and mutagenicity. The interventions of diversion, improved donor arm disinfection and bacterial screen testing are currently available, As such they can be implemented now to increase blood safety with no associated patient risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- C P McDonald
- National Bacteriology Laboratory, National Blood Service, Colindale, London, UK.
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García-Montalvo BM, Farfán-Ale JA, Acosta-Viana KY, Puerto-Manzano FI. Hepatitis B virus DNA in blood donors with anti-HBc as a possible indicator of active hepatitis B virus infection in Yucatan, Mexico. Transfus Med 2005; 15:371-8. [PMID: 16202051 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3148.2005.00610.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be present in serum even when negative for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). If routine screening of sera for anti-HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) is not done, low-level HBV viraemia may not be identified. A study was done on the presence of HBV DNA in serum samples from Mexican blood donors negative for HBsAg. Sera from 158 volunteer blood donors, negative for HBsAg and anti-HBs, but positive for anti-HBc, were analysed using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HBV DNA was detected in sera from 13 (8.23%) of the 158. Specificity of the PCR-amplified products was corroborated using Southern blot. Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis showed identical SSCP-banding patterns for all 13 PCR products, suggesting similar cDNA sequences. Occult HBV infection was observed in approximately 8% of anti-HBc only donors. The absence of HBsAg in the blood of apparently healthy individuals may not be sufficient to ensure lack of circulating HBV, and blood containing anti-HBc only may be infectious until proven otherwise.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M García-Montalvo
- Banco Central de Sangre, Centro Médico Nacional 'Lic. Ignacio García Tellez', Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico.
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Faure E. Alternative peptide-fusion proteins generated by out-of-frame mutations, just upstream ORFs or elongations in mutants of human hepatitis B viruses. Virus Res 2005; 117:185-201. [PMID: 16364485 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2005.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2005] [Revised: 10/28/2005] [Accepted: 10/28/2005] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
By various means including out-of-frame mutations, just upstream ORFs and elongations, additional peptide fusions could be generated by mutants of Human Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Numerous frameshift mutations inducing long alternative open reading frames have been evidenced in all HBV genes. Interestingly, these mutants are frequently detected in severe liver diseases, but seldom in asymptomatic carriers. The high level of conservation of some of these sequences in spite of the fact that they could be generated by different types of mutations, as their presence in mutants found on various continents, suggest that these mutations could play a role. These mutants could combine two advantages, that related to the loss of a part of a wild-type protein and that related to the putative advantage conferred by the additional sequences. In addition, in numerous Asian genomes (more than 300 to date) pre-X or pre-pre-S regions were found just upstream to, respectively, the X and the pre-S1 genes. These two regions are translated with their respective genes in frame and recent studies have evidenced the transactivating role of the corresponding proteins. With some exceptions, these regions are genotype- and serotype-specific (C/adr). In addition, these mutants have been found principally in patients with severe hepatitis diseases, for example, hepatocarcinoma in more than one third of the cases. As additional sequences generated by HBV variants may be relevant for viral life cycle, persistence and pathogenesis, further investigations are necessary to give a clearer picture of the subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Faure
- E.R. Biodiversity and environment, case 5, University of Provence, Place Victor Hugo, 13331 Marseilles cedex 3, France.
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Murokawa H, Yoshikawa A, Ohnuma H, Iwata A, Katoh N, Miyamoto M, Mine H, Emura H, Tadokoro K. Epidemiology of blood donors in Japan, positive for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus by nucleic acid amplification testing. Vox Sang 2005; 88:10-6. [PMID: 15663717 DOI: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2005.00581.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The Japanese Red Cross screens seronegative blood donors by nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus-1 markers. NAT-positive donors thus identified seemed to have a different infectious background from serologically positive donors. The purpose of our study was to characterize this background in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) NAT-positive donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Some 328 HBV DNA-positive and 44 HCV RNA-positive donors were detected by NAT testing of seronegative blood donors. These were characterized regarding age, gender and genotype of HBV and HCV. RESULTS Those who were HBV NAT-positive were mainly young, in particular teenage girls. In Japan, genotypes C and B have previously been dominant, but recently genotype A has increased, and genotype H was recently detected. In HBV NAT-positive donors, the rate of genotype A was high (12.2%) compared with patients in hospital (1.7-2%). Donors who were HCV NAT-positive were also young, but mostly men in their twenties. The ratio of genotype 1b to 2a or 1b to 2b in HCV NAT-positive donors differed from that of hospitalized patients in Japan. We did not find genotype 1a, which is dominant in the USA. CONCLUSIONS The high-risk donors detected by NAT were mainly young, with a different distribution of genotypes from that of hospitalized patients, regarding both HBV and HCV. The rare HBV genotype H has been found for the first time in Japan. The findings reflect the present spread of hepatitis viruses B and C.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Murokawa
- Japanese Red Cross Headquarters, Blood Services Department, Tokyo, Japan
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Ismail N, Fish GE, Smith MB. Laboratory evaluation of a fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay for rapid detection of HBsAg, antibodies to HBsAg, and antibodies to hepatitis C virus. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 42:610-7. [PMID: 14766824 PMCID: PMC344481 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.42.2.610-617.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2003] [Revised: 08/31/2003] [Accepted: 11/04/2003] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The performance of a fully automated, random access, enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (Ortho/ECi) for the detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) (anti-HCV), HBsAg, and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBsAg), in human serum was compared to a Abbott second-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA 2.0). The Ortho/ECi assays employ an immunometric technique with enhanced chemiluminescence for optimal assay performance. With regard to the study of clinical laboratory performance, six groups of sera prescreened with Abbott EIAs were assayed: anti-HCV-negative samples (n = 318), anti-HCV-positive samples (n = 177), anti-HBsAg-negative samples (n = 241), anti-HBsAg-positive samples (n = 239), HBsAg-positive samples (n = 158), and HBsAg-negative samples (n = 312). Sera with discrepant results in the two serological assays were resolved by confirmatory tests. Sera with indeterminate results by one or more confirmatory tests were evaluated by reviewing medical records. The overall concordance between the Ortho/ECi assay and the Abbott EIA were 97.78, 93.54, and 97.66% for anti-HCV antibodies, anti-HBsAg antibodies, and HBsAg, respectively. After resolving the discrepancies, the specificities of the new assay for anti-HCV and anti-HBsAg antibodies and HBsAg were 98.1, 92.8, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivities of the new assay for anti-HCV, anti-HBsAg, and HBsAg were 100, 98.8, and 97.4%, respectively. In conclusion, The Ortho/ECi assays for diagnosis of HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are highly specific and sensitive assays. The rapid turnaround time, random access, full automation, and high throughput make it an effective assay system for clinical laboratory diagnosis of HCV and HBV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahed Ismail
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
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Chaudhuri V, Nanu A, Panda SK, Chand P. Evaluation of serologic screening of blood donors in India reveals a lack of correlation between anti-HBc titer and PCR-amplified HBV DNA. Transfusion 2003; 43:1442-8. [PMID: 14507277 DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2003.00512.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transfusion associated-HBV (TAHBV) is estimated at approximately 1.5 percent in postsurgical recipients and 50 percent or more in multiple-transfusion recipients in India. Not transfusing blood with high-titer anti-HBc, which reportedly correlates with the presence of HBV DNA, helped reduce TAHBV in Japan. This study tested anti-HBc-reactive donors for PCR-amplified HBV DNA and its correlation with anti-HBc titers. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS In total, 30,853 donors from Cohort 1 (24,694 in 2001) and Cohort 2 (6159 in 2000) were screened for anti-HBc and anti-HBs. Amplification of HBV DNA was performed on an unselected subset of 147 out of 3304 anti-HBc-only sera from Cohort 1 and 230 out of 6159 from Cohort 2. Correlation of anti-HBc titers in DNA positive (n = 48), DNA negative (n = 40), anti-HBs reactive (n = 44), and HBsAg reactive (n = 45) donors was by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS In Cohort 1, 2673 (10.82%) donors were reactive for anti-HBc, of whom 1038 (4.20%) were anti-HBc only. HBV DNA was detected in 40 out of 147 (27.21%) and 48 out of 230 (20.87%) donors with anti-HBc only from the two cohorts. Anti-HBc titers detected no significant difference between the first three groups. CONCLUSION Cryptic HBV infection was observed in approximately 25 percent of anti-HBc-only donors. No correlation was established between HBc titers and presence of HBV DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Chaudhuri
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Corden S, Ballard AL, Ijaz S, Barbara JAJ, Gilbert N, Gilson RJC, Boxall EH, Tedder RS. HBV DNA levels and transmission of hepatitis B by health care workers. J Clin Virol 2003; 27:52-8. [PMID: 12727529 DOI: 10.1016/s1386-6532(02)00127-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Laboratory-based study funded by the Research and Development Division of the Department of Health to inform the decision making on guidelines for the conduct of exposure prone procedures (EPPs) by health care workers who are hepatitis B carriers. OBJECTIVES Define the quantity and nature of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in hepatitis carriers whose serum does not contain hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and in surgeons previously cleared to conduct EPPs who have transmitted HBV to their patients. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional survey using HBV DNA quantification, genotyping and sequencing comparing transmitting surgeons and asymptomatic carriers. RESULTS HBV DNA could be detected and quantified in 64.5% (136 of 211) of carriers whose serum did not contain HBeAg with a median level 3.6 log(10) copies/ml (range of 5.7 log(10) copies). Pre-core mutation appeared not to affect the HBV DNA level, however, all surgeons carried codon 28 variants and transmitted these variants to their patients. The lowest HBV DNA level in a transmitting surgeon was 4 x 10(4) copies/ml. CONCLUSIONS Pre-core mutations are common in carriers whose serum does not contain HBeAg and do not specifically identify carriers whose HBV DNA levels are high. It was possible to define a level of virus above which transmission of hepatitis B during conduct of EPPs could not be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Corden
- Department of Virology, Public Health Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, UK
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Weber B, Dengler T, Berger A, Doerr HW, Rabenau H. Evaluation of two new automated assays for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) detection: IMMULITE HBsAg and IMMULITE 2000 HBsAg. J Clin Microbiol 2003; 41:135-43. [PMID: 12517838 PMCID: PMC149549 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.41.1.135-143.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years the diagnostic industry has developed new automated immunoassays for the qualitative detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum and plasma samples that are performed on analyzers that permit a high-speed throughput, random access, and primary tube sampling. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of two new automated HBsAg screening assays, IMMULITE HBsAg and IMMULITE 2000 HBsAg, from Diagnostic Products Corporation. The new HBsAg assays were compared to well-established tests (Auszyme Monoclonal [overnight incubation, version B], IMx HBsAg, AxSYM HBsAg, and Prism HBsAg [all from Abbott] and Elecsys HBsAg [Roche Diagnostics]). In the evaluation were included seroconversion panels, sera from the acute and chronic phases of infection, dilution series of various HBsAg standards, HBV subtypes and S gene mutants. To challenge the specificity of the new assays, sera from HBsAg-negative blood donors, pregnant women, and dialysis and hospitalized patients and potentially cross-reactive samples were investigated. IMMULITE HBsAg and IMMULITE 2000 HBsAg, although not as sensitive as the Elecsys HBsAg assay, were equivalent to the AxSYM HBsAg assay and showed a higher sensitivity than the Auszyme Monoclonal B and IMx HBsAg systems for detection of acute infection in seroconversion panels. The specificities (100%) of both IMMULITE assays on unselected blood donors and potentially interfering samples were comparable to those of the alternative assays after repeated testing. In conclusion, the new IMMULITE HBsAg and IMMULITE 2000 HBsAg assays show a good sensitivity for HBsAg detection compared to other well-established tests. The specificity on repeatedly tested samples was equivalent to that of the alternative assays. The rapid turnaround time, primary tube sampling, and on-board dilution make it an interesting assay system for clinical laboratory diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Weber
- Laboratoires Réunis Kutter-Lieners-Hastert, Junglinster, Luxembourg.
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18
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Regan FA, Hewitt P, Barbara JA, Contreras M. Prospective investigation of transfusion transmitted infection in recipients of over 20 000 units of blood. TTI Study Group. BMJ (CLINICAL RESEARCH ED.) 2000; 320:403-6. [PMID: 10669443 PMCID: PMC27283 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.320.7232.403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To follow up recipients of 20 000 units of blood to identify any transmissions of infections through blood transfusion. DESIGN Follow up study of recipients of transfusion. SETTING 22 hospitals in north London. PARTICIPANT Adult patients who had recently been transfused. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patients had further blood samples taken at 9 months that were tested for markers of hepatitis B and C and HIV and human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type I or II (HTLV) infections. Recent infections were distinguished from pre-existing infections by comparison with blood samples taken before transfusion. RESULTS 9220 patients were recruited, and 5579 recipients of 21 923 units of blood were followed up. No transfusion transmitted infections were identified. The incidence of transfusion transmitted infections was 0 in 21 043 units (95% confidence interval for risk 0 to 1 in 5706 recipients) for hepatitis B; 0 in 21 800 units (0 to 1 in 5911 recipients) for hepatitis C; 0 in 21 923 units (0 to 1 in 5944 recipients) for HIV; and 0 in 21 902 units (0 to 1 in 5939 recipients) for human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus. Three patients acquired hepatitis B during or after hospital admission but not through transfusion; 176 (3%) had pre-existing hepatitis B infection. Sixteen (0.29%) patients had hepatitis C, and five (0.09%) had human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus. CONCLUSIONS The current risk of transfusion transmitted infections in the United Kingdom is very small, though hospital acquired infections may arise from sources other than transfusion. A considerable proportion of patients have pre-existing infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Regan
- National Blood Service, London and South East Zone, North London Centre, London NW9 5BG
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19
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Weber B, Bayer A, Kirch P, Schlüter V, Schlieper D, Melchior W. Improved detection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen by a new rapid automated assay. J Clin Microbiol 1999; 37:2639-47. [PMID: 10405414 PMCID: PMC85302 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.37.8.2639-2647.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The performance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) screening assays is continuously improved in order to reduce the residual risk of transfusion-associated hepatitis B. In a multicenter study, a new automated rapid screening assay, Elecsys HBsAg (Roche Diagnostics), was compared to well-established tests (Auszyme Monoclonal [overnight incubation] version B and IMx HBsAg [Abbott]). Included in the evaluation were 23 seroconversion panels; sera from the acute and chronic phases of infection; dilution series of various HBsAg standards, HBV subtypes, and S gene mutants; and isolated anti-HBV core antigen-positive samples. To challenge the specificity of the new assay, sera from HBsAg-negative blood donors, pregnant women, and dialysis and hospitalized patients and potentially cross-reactive samples were investigated. Elecsys HBsAg showed a higher sensitivity for HBsAg subtypes ad, ay, adw2, adw4, ayw1, ayw2, ayw4, and adr detection in dilution series of different standards or sera than Auszyme Monoclonal version B and/or IMx HBsAg. Acute hepatitis B was detected in 11 to 16 of 23 seroconversion panels between 2 and 16 days earlier with Elecsys HBsAg than with the alternative assays. Elecsys HBsAg and Auszyme Monoclonal version B detected HBsAg surface mutants with equal sensitivity. The sensitivity and specificity of Elecsys HBsAg were 100%. Auszyme Monoclonal version B had a 99.9% specificity, and its sensitivity was 96.6%. IMx HBsAg showed a poorer sensitivity and specificity than the other assays. In conclusion, Elecsys HBsAg permits earlier detection of acute hepatitis B and different HBV subtypes than the alternative assays. By using highly sensitive HBsAg screening assays, low-level HBsAg carriers among isolated anti-HBV core antigen-positive individuals can be detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Weber
- Laboratoires Réunis Kutter-Lieners-Hastert, Junglinster, Luxembourg.
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20
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Günther S, Fischer L, Pult I, Sterneck M, Will H. Naturally occurring variants of hepatitis B virus. Adv Virus Res 1999; 52:25-137. [PMID: 10384235 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-3527(08)60298-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S Günther
- Heinrich-Pette-Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie, Universität Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
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21
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Lenhoff RJ, Luscombe CA, Summers J. Acute liver injury following infection with a cytopathic strain of duck hepatitis B virus. Hepatology 1999; 29:563-71. [PMID: 9918936 DOI: 10.1002/hep.510290236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A variant avian hepadnavirus that has been shown to destroy hepatocytes in vitro was found to be cytopathic in vivo. A single amino acid change of glycine to glutamic acid at position 133 (G133E) in the preS protein of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) caused an increase in the intranuclear pool of viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), resulting in a transient elevation of viral replication and eventual hepatocyte destruction. In vivo viral infection with the G133E virus was compared with infection with wild-type virus over a 72-day period. Birds were inoculated with virus at day 2 post-hatch to ensure a high percentage of infected hepatocytes and potential persistence of virus. Birds infected with the G133E virus had increased periportal cellular proliferation and numerous lysed apoptotic hepatocytes following 100% infection of hepatocytes. The liver damage within G133E virus-infected birds subsided over time, resulting in mild chronic hepatitis that was similar to that observed within wild-type virus-infected birds. The subsidence of liver damage in G133E virus-infected birds coincided with a reduction of viral cccDNA to wild-type virus levels in the liver. Our study indicates that maintenance of wild-type levels of viral cccDNA promotes persistence of virus infection by establishing a noncytopathic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Lenhoff
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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22
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Matsuo T, Shinzawa H, Togashi H, Aoki M, Sugahara K, Saito K, Saito T, Takahashi T, Yamaguchi I, Aoyama M, Kamada H. Highly sensitive hepatitis B surface antigen detection by measuring stable nitroxide radical formation with ESR spectroscopy. Free Radic Biol Med 1998; 25:929-35. [PMID: 9840738 DOI: 10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00125-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In areas where hepatitis B virus (HBV) is prevalent, HBV carriers negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) have been reported. Moreover, even after screening donor blood for HbsAg and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), post-transfusion hepatitis B continues to occur, though with a decreasing frequency. Therefore, screening tests far more sensitive for detecting HBsAg than those currently available are needed. We developed a highly sensitive method for HBsAg detection. It is based on the recognition of peroxidase activity through measuring the formation of stable nitroxide radical with electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, p-acetamidophenol (p-AP), and 4-hydrazonomethyl-1-hydroxy-2,2,5,5,-tetramethyl-3-imidazoline-3-o xide (HHTIO). A cut-off value was established by testing of 186 healthy adults and 50 HBsAg-positive individuals. The signal to noise (S/N) ratio of less than 1.488 obtained by ESR spectroscopy was considered to be negative and more than 2.181, positive. The p-AP/HHTIO method was found to be 10 times more sensitive than the standard ELISA and reproducibility was excellent. Additional investigations were made on the HBsAg levels in the serum from 26 healthy subjects, in whom cut-off index levels on ELISA were negative but relatively high (range: 0.6 to 1.0); and on 15 patients with non B non C hepatitis. Three of 26 cases and 3 of 15 with non B non C hepatitis were judged to be HBsAg positive. Of these, 5 were found to be positive for HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It was shown in this study that the p-AP/HHTIO method is practical and useful in screening HBV carriers because of the sensitivity in HBsAg detection, which is comparable to PCR analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Matsuo
- The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan
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23
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Sterneck M, Kalinina T, Günther S, Fischer L, Santantonio T, Greten H, Will H. Functional analysis of HBV genomes from patients with fulminant hepatitis. Hepatology 1998; 28:1390-7. [PMID: 9794926 DOI: 10.1002/hep.510280530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Two previous case reports suggest that hepatitis B virus (HBV) core promoter variants with a high replication competence contribute to the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis B (FHB). We recently found in HBV genomes from patients with FHB an accumulation of mutations within the core promoter region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the phenotype of these HBV variants. Replication competence and expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) of viral genomes from seven patients with FHB and one patient with fulminant recurrent hepatitis after liver transplantation were analyzed by transfection experiments in human hepatoma cells. Compared with wild-type virus, the HBV variants from the seven patients with FHB produced similar or slightly lower levels of intracellular replicative intermediates and extracellular viral particles. In contrast, the HBV genomes from the patient with fulminant recurrent hepatitis synthesized and secreted significantly more HBV DNA. All genomes tested expressed similar or even higher levels of HBeAg compared with wild-type virus, except for those from four patients with a precore stop codon mutation in the respective dominant viral populations. The level of HBsAg produced by all variant genomes was similar or reduced compared with wild-type virus. These data indicate that in some cases HBV variants with enhanced replication competence and/or a defect in HBeAg expression may contribute to the development of FHB. However, neither phenotype is an essential prerequisite; thus, an additional role of other viral or host factors in the pathogenesis of FHB is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sterneck
- Department of Medicine, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, Germany.
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24
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Fang ZL, Ling R, Wang SS, Nong J, Huang CS, Harrison TJ. HBV core promoter mutations prevail in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma from Guangxi, China. J Med Virol 1998; 56:18-24. [PMID: 9700628 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199809)56:1<18::aid-jmv4>3.0.co;2-q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The development of primary liver cancer frequently is associated with persistent HBV infection, and tumours may arise in individuals who are anti-HBe positive. However, it is unclear whether viruses with an HBeAg-negative phenotype are associated with tumour development or are selected, during seroconversion, after chromosomal integration of wild-type viral DNA. In order to investigate the temporal evolution of the HBV genome in such individuals, the polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify HBV DNA from tumour tissue and serum of 14 patients from Guangxi, China with hepatocellular carcinoma. Comparison of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the precore and proximal core region of HBV from the two sites in each patient produced evidence of divergence following integration in the tumour, but in most cases, HBeAg-negativity could not be explained by precore mutations. Sequences from the core promoter region were therefore examined and mutations were found in the majority, which are believed to upregulate transcription of the core (and pregenomic) RNA but to downregulate precore mRNA. To determine whether this finding merely reflected sequence variation among geographical isolates of HBV, the same region of HBV DNA from asymptomatic controls was sequenced and these mutations were found to be rare. We hypothesise that HBV with the core promoter mutations replicates at higher levels than the wild type, with the consequence that more integrations occur into the hepatocyte chromosomes during the early stages of infection. These hepatocytes may expand clonally and be targets for further mutagenic events leading to tumour development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z L Fang
- University Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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25
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Busch MP. Prevention of transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus infections through blood transfusion by anti-HBc testing. Vox Sang 1998; 74 Suppl 2:147-54. [PMID: 9704438 DOI: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1998.tb05413.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M P Busch
- Blood Centers of the Pacific, Irwin Center, San Francisco, California 94118, USA
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26
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Ohto H, Imamura S, Sato A, Kiyosawa K. Successful prevention of posttransfusion hepatitis B by the combined use of immunoglobulin, vaccine and interferon. TRANSFUSION SCIENCE 1997; 18:541-2. [PMID: 10178677 DOI: 10.1016/s0955-3886(97)00050-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H Ohto
- Blood Transfusion Service, Fukushima Medical College, Japan
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27
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Saraswat S, Banerjee K, Chaudhury N, Mahant T, Khandekar P, Gupta RK, Naik S. Post-transfusion hepatitis type B following multiple transfusions of HBsAg-negative blood. J Hepatol 1996; 25:639-43. [PMID: 8938539 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(96)80232-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Post-transfusion hepatitis continues to occur, though with decreasing frequency, even after screening donor blood for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HCV and alanine aminotransferase activity. Data from developing countries on the frequency and type of post-transfusion hepatitis are scarce. We undertook this prospective study to determine the incidence and type of post-transfusion hepatitis at our center after transfusion of blood negative for HBsAg by ELISA. METHODS Forty-one patients undergoing open-heart surgery, who had received 3 or more units of HBsAg-negative blood, were followed up. Serum samples of donor units transfused to recipients who developed post-transfusion hepatitis-B were subjected to HBV DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction, using two sets of X-gene specific primers which amplified a 250-bp fragment of the HBV DNA. RESULTS We found that six of the 41 patients (14.6%) developed post-transfusion hepatitis; four of them (66.6%) developed icteric post-transfusion hepatitis B, whereas two (33.3%) developed anicteric post-transfusion hepatitis C. These six recipients received a total of 48 units of blood and 30 of these 48 units could be subjected to HBV DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction. Eleven donor samples were polymerase chain reaction positive and had been transfused to three of the four patients who had developed post-transfusion hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that post-transfusion hepatitis B continues to be the most common cause of post-transfusion hepatitis in India. Screening of donor units for HBsAg by ELISA does not exclude all blood units infectious for hepatitis B virus. Additional measures to ensure safety of blood supply should be sought.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Saraswat
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, India
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28
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Alexopoulou A, Karayiannis P, Hadziyannis SJ, Hou J, Pickering J, Luo K, Thomas HC. Whole genome analysis of hepatitis B virus from four cases of fulminant hepatitis: genetic variability and its potential role in disease pathogenicity. J Viral Hepat 1996; 3:173-81. [PMID: 8871878 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.1996.tb00092.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The precore stop-codon variant of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been associated with fulminant hepatitis but is also found in patients with persistent infection and chronic hepatitis. We have examined the possibility that the severe outcome of infection in patients with fulminant disease may be a result of additional genomic variation. We sequenced the entire HBV genome from three patients of Greek and one patient of Chinese origin with fulminant hepatitis, and from two patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic infection from the same regions, using direct sequencing of amplified viral DNA. Three of the fulminant cases were infected with the precore stop-codon variant HBeAg negative) and the fourth with the wild-type (HBeAg) positive virus. We compared sequences from our four fulminant isolates, and an additional fulminant isolate reported by others, with HBeAg positive carriers from the same regions and 12 published HBV genomes. There was a higher number of nucleotide and amino-acid substitutions throughout the HBV genome in the precore variant fulminant sequences than in the wild type. A cluster of mutations previously identified in the X region (126-132) in sequences reported in Japanese patients and encompassing the Enhancer II-Core Promoter region (1751-1768), were not found in our patients. We conclude that although there are no changes common to all sequences of HBV isolates from fulminant cases, some of these changes are in recognized cis-acting regulatory elements, whilst others are in the immediate vicinity of such elements. The effect of these mutations on viral genome transcription must now be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Alexopoulou
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK
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29
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Hur GM, Lee YI, Suh DJ, Lee JH, Lee YI. Gradual accumulation of mutations in precore core region of HBV in patients with chronic active hepatitis: implications of clustering changes in a small region of the HBV core region. J Med Virol 1996; 48:38-46. [PMID: 8825708 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199601)48:1<38::aid-jmv6>3.0.co;2-m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The sequence in the precore and core region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome in the serum of five chronic active hepatitis patients at four different stages in each individual were studied by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing to determine the prevalence and type of precore and core mutants in each chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patient. Gradual changes of the virus genome in each CAH patient in precore and core regions were identified. Except for the virus from one patient, the mutant viruses showed gradual changes of genome sequences, which resulted in the generation of stop codons at the precore and core region, causing the association of active hepatitis in each patient even in the presence of anti-HBe. Mutational hot spots in the core region, which includes a clustering of changes in a small region of 14 amino acids (codons 84-97 from the start of the core gene) were found in all patients. This region of mutational hot spots in the core might be a major target of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), which has evolved under the pressure of immune selections, and these mutants might play a important role in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Hur
- Biomedicine Research Group, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Taejeon
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30
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Allain JP, Reeves I, Kitchen AD, Wenham D, Williamson LM. Feasibility and usefulness of an efficient anti-HBc screening programme in blood donors. Transfus Med 1995; 5:259-65. [PMID: 8646288 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3148.1995.tb00211.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Post-transfusion hepatitis B remains a risk for recipients of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screened blood. Anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) screening may help reduce this risk. To evaluate its usefulness, 9,238 East Anglian blood donors were screened for anti-HBc. Those with isolated anti-HBc were identified with two confirmatory anti-HBc and anti-HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) assays. The prevalence of anti-HBc reactions in screening and confirmatory assays was 1.29% and 0.35%, respectively. The level of reactivity was significantly higher when two anti-HBc assays gave concordant results or, being concordant, were anti-HBs positive. All isolated anti-HBc-positive units (0.04%) were negative for additional HBV markers including DNA tested with nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A 0.31% prevalence of past HBV infection was found in this population, all carrying both anti-HBc and anti-HBs antibody, most above the protective level (0.1 IU/ml). The proposed screening schemes would limit the number of deferred donors and discarded units and keep the testing time within the remit of routine blood banking practices for an additional cost of approximately 1 pound per unit. However, no evidence was found in this donor population to suggest that anti-HBc screening would significantly reduce the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Allain
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, University of Cambridge, East Anglian Blood Transfusion Centre, UK
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31
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Laskus T, Rakela J, Nowicki MJ, Persing DH. Hepatitis B virus core promoter sequence analysis in fulminant and chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology 1995; 109:1618-23. [PMID: 7557146 DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(95)90651-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS It was recently reported that two point mutations within the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core promoter region (A to T at position 1762 and G to A at position 1764) are associated with fulminant hepatitis and lead to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative phenotype. The aim of this study was to correlate core promoter sequence variations with HBeAg status and clinical outcome in various forms of HBV infection. METHODS Core promoter region of HBV was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced in 94 patients: 37 patients with fulminant hepatitis, 20 with acute self-limited hepatitis, 30 with chronic hepatitis, and 7 patients with end-stage cirrhosis. RESULTS Core promoter region was found to be heterogenous and no specific changes correlated with HBeAg/anti-HBeAg status or survival in patients with fulminant hepatitis. Substitutions at positions 1762 and 1764 were found in HBV strains from 4 patients (10%) with fulminant hepatitis, 2 patients (10%) with self-limited hepatitis, 8 patients (27%) with chronic hepatitis, and in 5 of 7 patients with end-stage cirrhosis. The majority of these patients were HBeAg positive. CONCLUSIONS Mutations at positions 1762 and 1764 are rarely observed in HBV strains from patients with fulminant hepatitis B in the United States but are common in patients with chronic hepatitis. Even when present, they seem to be insufficient to lead to the HBeAg-negative phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Laskus
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA
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32
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Barlet V, Zarski JP, Thelu MA, Bichard P, Seigneurin JM. Different prevalence of precore mutants in five members of a hepatitis-B-virus-infected family: evidence for a precore variant type in an asymptomatic anti-HBs patient. J Hepatol 1994; 21:797-805. [PMID: 7890897 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(94)80242-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Chronic active hepatitis B (CAH-B), anti-HBe (+) has been associated with a hepatitis B virus variant carrying a stop codon at the distal pre-C region that prevents HBeAg synthesis. We analyzed the HBV DNA pre-C region in five members of a Turkish family. The mother presented an anti-HBe (+) CAH-B and the four children different hepatitis B virus serological and clinical profiles. The pre-C region was analyzed by cloning after DNA amplification in sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A method for rapid screening of a large number of cloned polymerase chain reaction products was developed for the presence of the most frequent pre-C mutations (G to A substitution at nucleotide position 1896 and 1899). At least 60 independent clones were tested for each patient by selective oligonucleotide hybridization using non-mutated (M0), one (M1) and two (M2) point-mutated probes. Results were confirmed by sequencing. The mutation 1896 was present in 91% of DNA clones from the mother. The same mutation was also found in 85% of the clones in the youngest child (D), but in less than 10% of the clones from children A and C. Only the pre-C wild-type strain was observed in child B. X gene deletions (3 to 20 nt) were also present in some clones from the mother and children A, B and C. No significant difference between serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells concerning the viral population was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- V Barlet
- Laboratoire de Virologie Médicale Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine/CHU Grenoble, France
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33
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Nguyen XT, Fukuda R, Fukumoto S. Precore region mutation in hepatitis B virus genome in early stage of infection: a study in hepatitis B e antigen-positive young carriers. J Gastroenterol 1994; 29:469-73. [PMID: 7951858 DOI: 10.1007/bf02361245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
To determine when the precore mutation at the 83rd nucleotide occurs, leading to the formation of a stop codon in the hepatitis B virus genome in carriers, which would indicate the presence of antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe), we investigated this mutation by direct sequencing and subcloning in 22 young hepatitis B antigen (HBeAg) (+) carriers. These subjects were 7-17 years old and were found during a survey for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in three elementary schools, a junior high, and a senior high school. None of these carriers had clinical manifestations, although one-third of them had elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels. All were HBeAg-positive by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and 6 of them had preserved titers of anti-HBe at the same time. Precore mutations were found in 4 subjects (18.2%), with predominance of the wild type. Although 3 of these 4 had preserved titers of HBeAb, the other had no HBeAb titers. In an other 3 subjects with preserved titers of HBeAb, the precore mutation was not detected, even after the subcloning of viral DNA. The remaining 15 subjects with HBeAg showed no precore mutation. Subjects with ALT levels exceeding 100 IU/l were all HBeAg-positive without the mutation. It was clear that the precore mutation itself occurred in the subjects at an early age during the course of infection. However, the chronological relationship between the emergence of the precore mutation and the onset of hepatitis requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- X T Nguyen
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane Medical University, Japan
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Barbara
- North London Blood Transfusion Centre, United Kingdom
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36
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Schödel F, Peterson D, Hughes J, Milich D. Hepatitis B virus core particles as a vaccine carrier moiety. Int Rev Immunol 1994; 11:153-65. [PMID: 7519230 DOI: 10.3109/08830189409061723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- F Schödel
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France
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37
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Aye TT, Uchida T, Becker SO, Shikata T, Mima S. Completely or nearly identical hepatitis B virus strains replicate between patients with acute or fulminant hepatitis B and their respective infectious sources. J Med Virol 1994; 42:60-5. [PMID: 8308522 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.1890420112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Five patients with acute hepatitis B and four with fulminant hepatitis B were selected for sequencing of the precore/core gene of the virus strains. Furthermore, identical sequencing was done with the HBV of the infectious sources, i.e., the sexual partner in eight cases and a natural child (chronic carrier) infecting the mother in one case. Of the subjects responsible for the infection, four were healthy HBV carriers, three suffered from chronic hepatitis B, and one from acute and one from fulminant hepatitis B. The nucleotide sequences of HBV from both the patients and the implicated sources of infection exhibited perfect identity of the precore region and perfect or high identity of the core region. The completely or nearly identical strain of virus seemed to proliferate successively in the patients following the transmission from the infecting individuals regardless of sequence variations and infectious status. In two cases a peculiar pattern of infection and disease was found: In one married couple the husband, during the incubation period of acute hepatitis B, infected his wife, who developed fulminant hepatitis. In another married couple, both partners ultimately developed fulminant hepatitis (the wife being the source of the infection).
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Affiliation(s)
- T T Aye
- Department of Pathology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Lee JH, Di Bisceglie AM, Baker BL, Zeldis JB. The development of a mutation in the precore region of the hepatitis B virus in a chronically infected individual. Gastroenterology 1994; 106:243-7. [PMID: 8276188 DOI: 10.1016/s0016-5085(94)95767-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Over a 15-year period, a white American woman was observed to have progressive hepatitis B that underwent hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) positivity to anti-HBe positivity with development of cirrhosis. This patient was found to have a non-sense mutation in the second codon of the pre-C region of the hepatitis B virus genome after her anti-HBe seroconversion but not in her serum when she was HBeAg+. As controls, serial blood specimens were analyzed from 12 other American patients who spontaneously converted from HBeAg to anti-HBe, who underwent an interferon alfa-associated HBeAg to anti-HBe seroconversion, and who did not seroconvert with interferon alfa therapy. No mutations in the pre-C region were observed to arise in these individuals. In conclusion, non-sense mutations that occur in the pre-C region in locations other than the 28th codon can be associated with HBeAg negative progressive liver disease. This report of a non-sense mutation occurring over time is unusual in that it occurred in a white American patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Lee
- Gastrointestinal Division, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento
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Abstract
Chronic hepatitis affects almost all haemophiliacs treated with non-virally inactivated clotting factor concentrates. The virus responsible is hepatitis C (HCV) and most patients have non-neutralising antibodies with circulating virus. Although the majority also have evidence of past infection with hepatitis B, less than 5% are chronic carriers of HBsAg. Chronic hepatitis C can be associated with severe and progressive liver disease but the development of complications is slow. Treatment with recombinant interferon alpha given subcutaneously normalises the liver function in 50% of patients, but 50% of responders relapse on stopping treatment. Liver transplantation is successful in patients with advanced liver disease and it offers the added advantage of phenotypic cure of the haemophilic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Makris
- Department of Haematology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
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Laskus T, Persing DH, Nowicki MJ, Mosley JW, Rakela J. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the precore region in patients with fulminant hepatitis B in the United States. Gastroenterology 1993; 105:1173-8. [PMID: 8405863 DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(93)90964-e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A precore defective hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutant unable to produce hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) has been associated with fulminant hepatitis B. We have studied the etiologic contribution of precore mutants among North American patients with this disorder. METHODS We studied 39 patients with fulminant hepatitis B. The precore and proximal core regions of HBV from 37 of 39 patients were sequenced. RESULTS Four patients (10.8%) harbored nonsense mutants likely to produce an HBeAg negative HBV infection; two such mutants had a G to A substitution at position 1896, one lost the precore initiation codon, and one harbored a stop codon immediately downstream of the precore initiation codon. Recovered sequences from seven additional patients displayed silent or missense mutations in these regions. All delta coinfected patients harbored known wild type strains of HBV. A significantly poorer survival was associated with antibody to HBe positivity and presence of nucleotide substitutions in the precore/core region. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of precore mutations in 37 patients from the United States was lower than reported elsewhere; only two patients were found to have the G to A transition mutation in the precore region at position 1896. We conclude that HBeAg negative HBV mutants do not play a predominant etiologic role among North American patients with fulminant hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Laskus
- Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota
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Martlew VJ, Rogan PD, Shepherd AJN, Firth SA. Hepatitis B core antibody screening of voluntary blood donors: an extended pilot study using a modified passive haemagglutination assay. Transfus Med 1993. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3148.1993.tb00120.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- T Uchida
- Department of Pathology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Barbara
- North London Blood Transfusion Centre, England
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Abstract
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) involves alternate denaturing and re-annealing of DNA in test samples in the presence of appropriate oligonucleotide primers complementary to opposite strands of the target DNA together with a heat-stable DNA polymerase, Mg2+ and the four nucleotide triphosphates. DNA target segments can be 'amplified' ten-millionfold by 25-35 such cycles. Even greater amplification (approximately 10(12)-fold) with enhanced specificity can be obtained by a second set of amplification cycles using a further pair of 'nested' primers sited within the DNA sequence defined by the original primers. PCR can be applied to the study of the whole range of transfusion-transmitted infections, both plasma and cell associated; RNA viruses can be analyzed if a DNA copy is made from the viral RNA by treatment with reverse transcriptase. In a transfusion context, the retroviruses (HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-I, HTLV-II), HCV and HBV have been the viruses most intensively subjected to PCR analysis. The advantages of PCR in this context include its ability to detect virus during the 'window period' or seronegative stages of infections and its value as a marker for viraemia and for the detection of viruses in products made from large pools of plasma. True immunity may also be differentiated from persistent infection in the presence of antibody. Similarly, PCR can overcome problems of diagnosis of acute infection caused by the presence of passively transferred antibody. Detailed strain differentiation is also possible by PCR, in conjunction with sequencing or with the aid of restriction endonucleases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Abstract
The heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is increasingly believed to play a role in viral persistence, pathogenesis, and the type of response to antiviral therapy. One of the best studied parts of the HBV genome is the C-gene which codes for the nucleocapsid protein (HBc) and the e-antigen (HBeAg). Here we attempt to review the recent data on the sequence heterogeneity of this region and its possible implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Miska
- Heinrich-Pette-Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie, Universität Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany
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Tur-Kaspa R, Klein A, Aharonson S. Hepatitis B virus precore mutants are identical in carriers from various ethnic origins and are associated with a range of liver disease severity. Hepatology 1992; 16:1338-42. [PMID: 1446889 DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840160606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus carriers in Israel are mostly HBeAg negative, of whom 5% to 10% have circulating hepatitis B virus. Recently, a hepatitis B virus variant with a stop codon in the precore region was identified, and it was suggested that specific mutations are associated with fulminant or severe chronic active hepatitis. We have analyzed serum samples from HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients by polymerase chain reaction, using primers spanning the precore/core region. Nucleotide sequence analysis (by direct sequencing) from amplified hepatitis B virus DNA demonstrated that viral genomes from all HBeAg-negative patients contain G to A mutation (nucleotide 1896), leading to the formation of a stop codon. An additional G to A mutation was identified three nucleotides downstream (nucleotide 1899). These patients are of various ethnic origins, with no unique clinical characteristics and with normal liver histology, chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis. No mutation at the precore/core region was observed in the HBeAg-positive patients. In conclusion, the precore mutations identified in hepatitis B virus carriers in Israel are identical regardless of the carrier's ethnic origin and are associated with mild-to-severe liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tur-Kaspa
- Division of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Harrison
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Viral Diseases, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK
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Iizuka H, Ohmura K, Ishijima A, Satoh K, Tanaka T, Tsuda F, Okamoto H, Miyakawa Y, Mayumi M. Correlation between anti-HBc titers and HBV DNA in blood units without detectable HBsAg. Vox Sang 1992; 63:107-11. [PMID: 1441302 DOI: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1992.tb02495.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was tested for in 294 blood units which had antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) as the isolated serological marker of HBV infection. After amplification by polymerase chain reaction, HBV DNA was detected in 12 (6.9%) of 175 units that were positive for anti-HBc with hemagglutination inhibition titers greater than or equal to 2(6), significantly more often than in none of 119 units with titers less than or equal to 2(5) (p less than 0.01). These results indicate that the exclusion of blood units with isolated high-titer anti-HBc would be effective for further decreasing the risk of posttransfusion hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Iizuka
- Japanese Red Cross Saitama Blood Center, Tokyo
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Yotsumoto S, Kojima M, Shoji I, Yamamoto K, Okamoto H, Mishiro S. Fulminant hepatitis related to transmission of hepatitis B variants with precore mutations between spouses. Hepatology 1992; 16:31-5. [PMID: 1618480 DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840160107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
A precore defective variant of hepatitis B virus has been indicated to cause fulminant hepatitis in various instances such as intrahospital outbreaks or mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus. To learn whether similar variants are involved in interspouse transmission, we analyzed three cases of fulminant hepatitis B that developed in formerly healthy subjects whose only exposure to hepatitis B virus was contact with their longtime spouses, who were carriers of HBV and positive for antibody to HBe. The DNA clones for precore and S genes were propagated from patients and spouses and sequenced. Because of the conservation of S-gene sequences and the identity of subtypes between patient and spouse, it was suggested that patients were infected with hepatitis B virus from their spouses, not from other sources. A TGG-to-TAG mutation at the 28th codon of the precore gene of hepatitis B virus was commonly observed in all DNA clones from patients with fulminant hepatitis and from their spouses. A 29th-codon GGC-to-GAC mutation was additionally evident in DNAs from one patient-and-spouse couple. A significant rise in the circulating hepatitis B virus concentration was transiently observed in the index spouse of this case just before development of fulminant hepatitis in her husband. The increase in circulating HBV DNA was associated with a rise in abundancy of variants with mutations at both the 28th and 29th codons, compared with variants with only a 28th-codon mutation. The double mutation in hepatitis B virus DNA may either help the virus escape immune surveillance or replicate at a higher rate than before.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Yotsumoto
- Immunology Division, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi-ken, Japan
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50
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Xu J, Brown D, Harrison T, Lin Y, Dusheiko G. Absence of hepatitis B virus precore mutants in patients with chronic hepatitis B responding to interferon-alpha. Hepatology 1992; 15:1002-6. [PMID: 1592338 DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840150605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Precore defective HBV mutants may gradually prevail because of immune selection and explain spontaneous seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe in HBV carriers. We have analyzed whether the presence of precore HBV mutants is a determinant of responsiveness to interferon-alpha therapy. Fifteen carriers (nine responders and six nonresponders) who were treated with interferon-alpha were examined. Serum samples were collected before and after therapy. After extraction of DNA, the precore region was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, and the product was identified by gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining and then Southern blotting and molecular hybridization. The amplified products in all patients were asymmetrically amplified by a modified polymerase chain reaction, and the precore region was directly sequenced. All patients were HBV DNA positive initially. Circulating HBeAg-negative mutants were not identified before treatment in either responders or nonresponders. All nine responders were negative for HBV DNA in serum by dot blot during or after treatment, but seven remained positive by polymerase chain amplification and Southern-blot hybridization. All of the nonresponders remained positive for HBV DNA by dot blot. A silent mutation involving the substitution of an A for G at position 1888 was found in seven carriers; however, no HBeAg-negative mutants were detected in the follow-up of either responders or nonresponders to interferon-alpha.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- J Xu
- University Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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