Characterization of hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase sequences in Chinese treatment naive patients

Yue Han, Li Hua Huang, Chuan Miao Liu, Shu Yang, Juan Li, Zhi Mei Lin, Xiao Fei Kong, De Min Yu, Dong Hua Zhang, Gen Di Jin, Zhi Meng Lu, Qi Ming Gong, Xin Xin Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Aims: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase (RT) plays an important role in viral replication. The aim of the present study was to characterize profiles of the RT region and to construct a database for further studies. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 328 treatment naive patients chronically infected with HBV in five Chinese cities. Mutation status, genotypes and deep sequence analysis were carried out by amplifying and sequencing the RT region. Results: The base usage in the RT region differed at the mono- and dinucleotide level and thymidine dominated. The higher the variability of the strain was, the more it replicated. No significant clustering was found between our HBV RT sequences and those isolated 10 years ago (achieved from genebank). Nucleotide analogue resistance related mutants exist. The M204V/I mutation was found in 1.8% of the strains, 1.2% had L180M+ M204V/I, 0.6% had A181T/V, and only one had all three mutations. Minor strain mutants were found in 9.3% of the samples studied. The genotype B patients made up 36.6% (88.7% B2) and were mostly found in southern China, 63.4% (92.2% C2) were genotype C, and only one was genotype D. The average age of HBeAg positive genotype B patients was 29.5 ± 10.4 years, for genotype C it was 36.1 ± 10.9 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Primarily antiviral resistance related mutant strains do exist in treatment naïve patients. Without antiviral pressure, HBV strains evolved at a normal speed. In depth sequence analysis implied that viral replication might be correlated with its variability, which needs to be further investigated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1417-1423
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Australia)
Volume24
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Deep sequence analysis
  • Hepatitis B virus
  • Mutant
  • Reverse transcriptase
  • Treatment naive

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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