Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle
09:35

Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle

Published on: February 1, 2017

14.0K

Deep sequencing identifies hepatitis B virus core protein signatures in chronic hepatitis B patients

Meike H van der Ree1, Louis Jansen1, Matthijs R A Welkers2

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Antiviral Research
|August 20, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Amino acid differences in hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) were identified between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patient subgroups. These variations correlate with HBeAg status and treatment response, offering insights into disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a significant global health concern.
  • Understanding viral protein variations is crucial for managing CHB.
  • Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status and treatment response are key clinical indicators in CHB.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify amino acid differences in the hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) between CHB patient subgroups.
  • To correlate HBc amino acid variations with HBeAg serostatus.
  • To investigate the association between HBc amino acid changes and response to combination antiviral therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Deep sequencing of the HBc gene was performed on samples from 89 CHB patients.
  • Sequence Harmony software was utilized for comparative amino acid analysis.
  • Patients were stratified based on HBeAg positivity/negativity and response to peginterferon/adefovir therapy.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in amino acid frequencies at 54 HBc positions were found between HBeAg-positive and -negative patients.
  • Twenty-two HBc positions showed differential amino acid usage between treatment responders and non-responders in HBeAg-negative patients.
  • A higher proportion of non-consensus sequences at specific HBc sites was observed in HBeAg-negative patients, negatively correlating with HBV DNA and HBsAg levels.

Conclusions:

  • Sequence Harmony effectively identified amino acid alterations in HBc linked to HBeAg status.
  • Specific HBc amino acid changes are associated with treatment outcomes in CHB patients receiving combination therapy.
  • These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of HBc protein's role in CHB pathogenesis and treatment response.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chronic hepatitis BDeep sequencingHBeAg statusHepatitis B virus core proteinTreatment response

More Related Videos

A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication13:04

A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Published on: June 26, 2014

24.7K
Measurement of the Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Transjugular Liver Biopsy07:10

Measurement of the Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Transjugular Liver Biopsy

Published on: June 18, 2020

22.8K

Related Concept Videos

Hepatic Drug Clearance: Effect of Protein Binding01:09

Hepatic Drug Clearance: Effect of Protein Binding

Hepatic clearance is influenced by protein binding based on the drug's extraction ratio. Drugs with high extraction ratios are considered flow-limited and remain unaffected by protein binding during hepatic clearance. On the other hand, drugs with low extraction ratios may be impacted by plasma protein binding, although the extent of this influence depends on the fraction of the drug bound.
For low-extraction-ratio drugs that are less than 80% protein-bound, minor changes in protein binding...
563
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
281
Hepatic Portal System01:21

Hepatic Portal System

The hepatic portal system, a critical part of our circulatory framework, transports nutrient-laden, deoxygenated blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver. This ingenious system plays an indispensable role in maintaining our body's metabolic equilibrium.
At its core, the hepatic portal vein is the result of a confluence of the superior and inferior mesenteric veins along with the splenic vein. Each of these veins has a unique role. The superior mesenteric vein is...
6.0K
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug...
247
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors01:16

Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors

The biliary system of the liver, crucial for bile secretion and drug excretion, comprises intrahepatic bile ducts that merge to form the common hepatic duct. This duct, carrying hepatic bile, combines with the cystic duct, draining the gallbladder and forming the common bile duct, which empties into the duodenum. Bile, produced by hepatic cells lining the bile canaliculi, is composed primarily of water, bile salts, pigments, electrolytes, and lesser amounts of cholesterol and fatty acids. Bile...
592
Hepatic Drug Clearance: Role of Transporters01:14

Hepatic Drug Clearance: Role of Transporters

In the liver and bile canaliculi, influx and efflux transporters modification can influence intrinsic clearance. Transporters play a significant role in moving drugs within liver cells. Elaborate models, such as the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), are essential to relate transporters to drug disposition. This system categorizes drugs into four classes based on solubility and permeability, providing insights into elimination routes and the effects of transporters following oral...
310