A novel hepatitis B virus mutant coexisting with wild type virus in a carrier with negative HBsAg yet positive HBeAg and anti-HBs

作者：Zhou, Yi-Hua; Zhou, Jianxin; Li, Lei; Bi, Yongchun; Liu, Yong; Pan, Jinshun; Wu, Chao^*

来源：Journal of Clinical Virology, 2009, 46(4): 363-366.

DOI：10.1016/j.jcv.2009.09.012

• Hepatitis B virus
• HBsAg
• Escape mutant
• Anti-HBs
• HBeAg

Background: Occult infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has important impacts on both public health and clinical medicine. @@@ Objectives: To characterize the sequences of HBV S region in a chronic carrier with occult HBV infection. @@@ Study design: Serological markers for HBV were tested by commercial kits. Western blotting was performed to detect HBsAg. PCR was used to amplify HBV S region; the resultant products were sequenced directly and cloned and then sequenced. @@@ Results: Tests with commercial kits showed that the carrier was HBsAg negative yet HBeAg positive. HBsAg was positive in Western blotting analysis. Although anti-HBs titers were as high as 5356-11,578 mIU/ml, serum HBV DNA was positive, ranging from 370 to 491 copies/ml. Wild type and mutant HBV coexisted in circulation. The mutant virus had mutations in both preS2 and S genes: the preS2 ATG mutated to ATA, and the S gene had a 15-nucleotide repeat insertion in the a determinant. By Blast search in the GenBank, the mutant virus had not been identified before. Nevertheless, the carrier had no signs of liver dysfunction during follow-up period. @@@ Conclusion: We identified a novel mutant HBV coexisted with wild type virus in a carrier with negative HBsAg and positive HBeAg and high level of anti-HBs.

• 出版日期2009-12
• 单位南京大学