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Detection of Low Copy Number Integrated Viral DNA Formed by In Vitro Hepatitis B Infection
11:14

Detection of Low Copy Number Integrated Viral DNA Formed by In Vitro Hepatitis B Infection

Published on: November 7, 2018

Novel hepatitis B virus strain developing due to recombination between genotypes H and B strains isolated from a

Yoshihito Uchida1, Jun-Ichi Kouyama, Kayoko Naiki

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Moroyamacho, Japan.

Hepatology Research : the Official Journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology
|September 12, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Novel hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains, including genotype H and recombinant B/H strains, were identified in Japan. Globalization may be driving the emergence of new HBV genotypes with unique sequences.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Hepatology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes B and C are common in chronic infections in Japan, while genotype A is prevalent in acute cases.
  • Globalization is altering the global distribution of HBV genotypes.
  • This study investigated HBV genotypes beyond the common A, B, and C.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize unusual hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains identified in Japan.
  • To understand the impact of globalization on HBV genotype distribution.
  • To explore potential novel HBV genotypes and their genetic characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of 222 HBV patients using enzyme immunoassay and/or polymerase chain reaction INVADER.
  • Full-length nucleotide sequencing of unusual HBV strains.
  • Phylogenetic tree construction for sequence comparison.

Main Results:

  • Two unusual HBV strains were isolated from patients in Japan.
  • One strain was identified as genotype H, closely related to a Thailand isolate.
  • Another strain, classified as genotype H, showed recombination with genotype B and contained novel sequences in the precore/core region.

Conclusions:

  • Recombinant HBV strains between genotypes B and H were detected in Japanese chronic hepatitis patients.
  • Globalization may contribute to the emergence of novel HBV genotypes with unique nucleotide sequences.
  • Further research is needed to monitor and understand these evolving HBV strains.
Abstract

Keywords:
genotypeglobalizationhepatitis B virusnucleotide sequencerecombination

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