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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Molecular characterization of occult hepatitis B virus in genotype E-infected subjects
Journal of General Virology, Volume 89, No. 2, Year 2008
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Description
Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI), defined as the presence of HBV DNA without detectable HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), is frequent in west Africa, where genotype E is prevalent. The prevalence of OBI in 804 blood donors and 1368 pregnant women was 1.7 and 1.5%, respectively. Nine of 32 OBI carriers were evaluated with HBV serology, viral load and complete HBV genome sequence of two to five clones. All samples except one were anti-HBV core antigen-positive and three contained antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HRs). All strains were of genotype E and formed quasispecies with 0.20-1.28% intra-sample sequence variation. Few uncommon mutations (absent in 23 genotype E reference sequences) were found across the entire genome. Two mutations in the core region encoded truncated or abnormal capsid protein, potentially affecting viral production, but were probably rescued by non-mutated variants, as found in one clone. No evidence of escape mutants was found in anti-HBs-carrying samples, as the 'a' region was consistently wild type. OBI carriers constitute approximately 10% of all HBV DNA-viraemic adult Ghanaians. OBI carriers appear as a disparate group, with a very low viral load in common, but multiple origins reflecting decades of natural evolution in an area essentially devoid of human intervention. © 2008 SGM.
Authors & Co-Authors
Zahn, Astrid
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Li, Chengyao
United Kingdom, Bristol
Nhs Blood and Transplant
China, Guangzhou
Southern Medical University
Danso, Kwabena Asimeng
Ghana, Kumasi
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Candotti, Daniel
United Kingdom, Bristol
Nhs Blood and Transplant
Owusu-Ofori, Shirley P.
Ghana, Kumasi
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Temple, Jillian
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Allain, Jean Pierre
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Statistics
Citations: 84
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1099/vir.0.83347-0
ISSN:
00221317
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Multi-countries
Participants Gender
Female