[Analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS1, preS2 and S gene regions from patient groups infected with HBV genotype D]

Structure-Guided Approach to Identify Potential Inhibitors of Large Envelope Protein to Prevent Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of liver diseases, which can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma. The role of HBV envelope proteins is crucial in viral morphogenesis, infection, and propagation. Thus, blocking the pleiotropic functions of these proteins especially the PreS1 and PreS2 domains of the large surface protein (LHBs) is a promising strategy for designing efficient antivirals against HBV infection. Unfortunately, the structure of the LHBs protein has not been elucidated yet, and it seems that any structure-based drug discovery is critically dependent on this. To find effective inhibitors of LHBs, we have modeled and validated its three-dimensional structure and subsequently performed a virtual high-throughput screening against the ZINC database using RASPD and ParDOCK tools. We have identified four compounds, ZINC11882026, ZINC19741044, ZINC00653293, and ZINC15000762, showing appreciable binding affinity with the LHBs protein. The drug likeness was further validated using ADME screening and toxicity analysis. Interestingly, three of the four compounds showed the formation of hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues lying in the capsid binding region of the PreS1 domain of LHBs, suggesting the possibility of inhibiting the viral assembly and maturation process. The identification of potential lead molecules will help to discover more potent inhibitors with significant antiviral activities.

Comparison of Performance Characteristics of DxN VERIS System versus Qiagen PCR for HBV Genotype D and HCV Genotype 1b Quantification

The Beckman Coulter DxN VERIS system is a fully automated, closed molecular diagnostic instrument for viral load quantification of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. In this study, the analytical performance of this new system was compared to routine diagnostic Qiagen PCR kit by using the same clinical samples. The DxN VERIS system demonstrated a high analytical performance. The DxN VERIS allows random access, which means that samples can be uploaded straight on to the system at any time; so, it provides an improvement of workflow, staff productivity and allows faster turn-around of viral load results.