Occult infection related hepatitis B surface antigen variants showing lowered secretion capacity.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatitis B virus (HBV) occult infection of genotype C.

Methods

A total of 10 types of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) variants from a Korean occult cohort were used. After a complete HBV genome plasmid mutated such that it does not express HBsAg and plasmid encoding, each HBsAg variant was transiently co-transfected into HuH-7 cells. The secretion capacity and intracellular expression of the HBV virions and HBsAgs in their respective variants were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays and commercial HBsAg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively.

Results

All variants exhibited lower levels of HBsAg secretion into the medium compared with the wild type. In particular, in

SUBMITTER: Kim H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4323455 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature