Concealed for a Long Time on the Marches of Empires: Hepatitis B Virus Genotype I.

ABSTRACT: Genotype I, the penultimate HBV genotype to date, was granted the status of a bona fide genotype only in the XXIst century after some hesitations. The reason for these hesitations was that genotype I is a complex recombinant virus formed with segments from three original genotypes, A, C, and G. It was estimated that genotype I is responsible for only an infinitesimal fraction (<1.0%) of the chronic HBV infection burden worldwide. Furthermore, most probably due to its recent discovery and rarity, the natural history of infection with genotype I is poorly known in comparison with those of genotypes B or C that predominate in their area of circulation. Overall, genotype I is a minor genotype infecting ethnic minorities. It is endemic to the Southeast Asian Massif or Eastern Zomia, a vast moun

SUBMITTER: Marchio A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10535388 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature