Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) X Gene Diversity and Evidence of Recombination in HBV/HIV Co-Infected Persons

作者：Martin Christina M; Welge Jeffrey A; Blackard Jason T^*

来源：Journal of Medical Virology, 2011, 83(7): 1142-1150.

DOI：10.1002/jmv.22090

• intrapatient diversity
• dual HBV infection
• HBV/HIV co-infection
• hepatitis B virusXprotein (HBx)
• quasispecies
• recombination

The high frequency of mutation during hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has resulted in 8 genotypes (A-H) with varying effects on disease severity and treatment efficacy. However, analysis of intrapatient HBV diversity is limited, especially during HIV co-infection. Therefore, a preliminary study was performed to analyze HBV X gene diversity in 17 HBV/HIV co-infected individuals. Phylogenetic analysis revealed HBV genotype A in 13 individuals (76.5%) or genotype E in 1 individual (5.9%). Additionally, 3 individuals were dually infected with HBV genotypes A and G (17.6%). Overall, higher genetic distance and entropy were observed in the X region and overlapping polymerase (Pol(X)) regions when compared to the PreS, S, and overlapping polymerase (Pol(PS) and Pol(S)) regions analyzed in the same patients as part of a previous study. In addition, multiple viral variants from 2 individuals with dual HBV infection did not group with either genotype A or G by phylogenetic analysis, indicating possible recombination. SimPlot bootscan analysis confirmed recombination breakpoints within the X gene in both individuals. Recombination between HBV genotypes may represent an important evolutionary strategy that enhances overall pathogenic potential and/or alters the downstream effects of the HBV X protein. J. Med. Virol. 83:1142-1150, 2011.

• 出版日期2011-7