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Sequence diversity of hepatitis D virus in Mongolia
Battur Magvan1, Anne Alina Kloeble2, Johannes Ptok2
1Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Frontiers in Medicine
|April 10, 2023
Summary
Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) in Mongolia shows high genetic diversity within genotype 1, indicating recent local transmissions and ongoing viral evolution. Immune pressure from HLA class I suggests an active CD8+ T cell response against HDV.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) is the most aggressive form of viral hepatitis, necessitating better understanding of its molecular epidemiology.
- Mongolia has the highest prevalence of HDV infections globally, yet factors driving its sequence diversity remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the sequence diversity of HDV in rural Mongolian populations.
- To investigate the influence of HLA class I-associated selection pressure on HDV sequence diversity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 451 HBsAg-positive individuals from the HepMongolia cohort.
- Detection of anti-HDV, HDV-RNA, and sequencing of the large Hepatitis Delta Antigen (HDAg).
- HLA class I genotyping and identification of residues under selection pressure using HAMdetector.
Main Results:
- HDV isolates from Mongolia predominantly belong to genotype 1, with phylogenetic analysis revealing distinct clusters and evidence of recent local transmission.
- A significant portion of patients (65%) were anti-HDV positive, with HDV-RNA detected in 74% of those individuals.
- Multiple residues under strong HLA class I-associated selection pressure were identified, suggesting a functional CD8+ T cell response against HDV.
Conclusions:
- Mongolian HDV isolates exhibit high diversity, with molecular epidemiology indicating the circulation of multiple subtypes and recent transmission events.
- The findings provide evidence for ongoing viral evolution and host immune selection pressure shaping HDV diversity in Mongolia.
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