Detection of Immune Escape and Basal Core Promoter/Precore Gene Mutations in Hepatitis B Virus Isolated from Asymptomatic Hospital Attendees in Two Southwestern States in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT: Several mutations in the surface (S), basal core promoter (BCP), and precore (PC) genes of the hepatitis B virus have been linked to inaccurate diagnosis and the development of immune escape mutants (IEMs) of the infection, which can lead to chronic infection. Understanding the prevalence and spread of these mutations is critical in the global effort to eliminate HBV. Blood samples were collected from 410 people in Osun and Ekiti states, southwest Nigeria, between 2019 and 2021. Participants were drawn from a group of asymptomatic people who were either blood donors, outpatients, or antenatal patients with no record of HBV infection at the medical outpatients' unit of the hospital. DNA was extracted from plasma using a Qiagen DNEasy kit, followed by nested PCR targeting HBV S and BCP/PC ge

SUBMITTER: Sobajo OA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10674980 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature