[Hepatitis B virus mutants--clinical significance]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutants have recently been identified in patients with acute or fulminant as well as chronic infections. Naturally occurring mutations have been identified in all viral genes and regulatory elements, most notably in the genes coding for the structural envelope and nucleocapsid proteins. Mutations in the gene coding for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may result in infection or viral persistence despite the presence of antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs) ("vaccine escape" or "immune escape"). Mutations in the gene encoding the pre-core/ core protein (pre-core stop codon mutant) result in a loss of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and seroconversion to antibodies to HBeAg (anti-HBe) with persistence of HBV replication (HBeAg minus mutant). Mutations in the core gene may lead among others to an "immune escape" due to a T cell receptor antagonism. Mutations in the gene coding for the polymerase/reverse transcriptase can be associated with viral persistence or resistance to nucleoside analogues. Thus, HBV mutations may affect the natural course of infection, viral clearance and response to antiviral therapy. Apart from the precore/core stop codon mutations, the exact contribution of specific mutations to diagnosis and therapy of HBV infection as well as patient management in clinical practice remain to be established.