Episomal and integrated hepatitis B transcriptome mapping uncovers heterogeneity with the potential for drug-resistance.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small DNA virus that establishes chronic infection and drives progressive liver disease and cancer; presenting a global health problem with more than 250 million infections. HBV replicates via an episomal covalently-closed-circular DNA (cccDNA) and integrated viral DNA fragments are linked to carcinogenesis. Current treatments only suppress HBV replication and there is a global initiative to develop genome targeting therapies, including siRNAs, antisense oligonucleotides and epigenetic modifiers specific for HBV cccDNA. However, our knowledge of the cccDNA and integrant transcriptomes is confounded by overlapping viral RNAs. Using targeted long-read sequencing we mapped the HBV transcriptome in liver biopsies from eleven treatment naïve patients. Probe enrichme

SUBMITTER: Harris JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12474897 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature