Clonal analysis of hepatitis B viruses among blood donors from Joinville, Brazil: Evidence of dual infections, intragenotype recombination and markers of risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.

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J Med Virol. 2011 Dec;83(12):2103-12. doi: 10.1002/jmv.22246.

Clonal analysis of hepatitis B viruses among blood donors from Joinville,

Brazil: Evidence of dual infections, intragenotype recombination and markers of

risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Reis LM, Soares MA, França PH, Soares EA, Bonvicino CR.

Source

Programa de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is classified into seven major genotypes (A-H). Brazil,

a country of continental proportions, has three prevailing lineages of HBV

genotypes A, D, and F. Distinct HBV genotypes have been associated with

differential risk of disease progression. Pre-S gene deletions and single

nucleotide polymorphisms have also been linked to progression to liver diseases.

In this study, the molecular epidemiology of HBV was examined in Southern

Brazil. The occurrence of multiple HBV infections, HBV recombination, and

genetic markers of disease progression were also evaluated. Seventy-eight

persons infected with HBV had their viruses characterized molecularly by nested

PCR, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic inference. Multiple infections and

recombinant viruses were evaluated by clonal and bootscanning analyses. The vast

majority (96%) of the strains belonged to different D subgenotypes. Three of the

four strains with unresolved genotypic classification showed evidence of dual

infections with distinct D subgenotypes by clonal analysis. There was also

evidence of intragenotype mosaic viruses. While four viruses had pre-S deletions

as major variants, another two displayed minor variants with such

characteristics. One strain carried the F141L mutation, associated recently with

increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. These results emphasize the need for

monitoring HBV genotype distribution around South America, as well as for the

presence of genetic markers of disease progression in subjects diagnosed with

HBV recently. J. Med. Virol. 83:2103-2112, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Guest guest]

J Med Virol. 2011 Dec;83(12):2103-12. doi: 10.1002/jmv.22246.

Clonal analysis of hepatitis B viruses among blood donors from Joinville,

Brazil: Evidence of dual infections, intragenotype recombination and markers of

risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Reis LM, Soares MA, França PH, Soares EA, Bonvicino CR.

Source

Programa de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is classified into seven major genotypes (A-H). Brazil,

a country of continental proportions, has three prevailing lineages of HBV

genotypes A, D, and F. Distinct HBV genotypes have been associated with

differential risk of disease progression. Pre-S gene deletions and single

nucleotide polymorphisms have also been linked to progression to liver diseases.

In this study, the molecular epidemiology of HBV was examined in Southern

Brazil. The occurrence of multiple HBV infections, HBV recombination, and

genetic markers of disease progression were also evaluated. Seventy-eight

persons infected with HBV had their viruses characterized molecularly by nested

PCR, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic inference. Multiple infections and

recombinant viruses were evaluated by clonal and bootscanning analyses. The vast

majority (96%) of the strains belonged to different D subgenotypes. Three of the

four strains with unresolved genotypic classification showed evidence of dual

infections with distinct D subgenotypes by clonal analysis. There was also

evidence of intragenotype mosaic viruses. While four viruses had pre-S deletions

as major variants, another two displayed minor variants with such

characteristics. One strain carried the F141L mutation, associated recently with

increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. These results emphasize the need for

monitoring HBV genotype distribution around South America, as well as for the

presence of genetic markers of disease progression in subjects diagnosed with

HBV recently. J. Med. Virol. 83:2103-2112, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.