Variations and mutations in the hepatitis B virus genome and their associations with clinical characteristics.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is major global issue, because chronic HBV infection is strongly associated with liver cancer. HBV spread worldwide with various mutations and variations. This variability, called quasispecies, is derived from no proof-reading capacity of viral reverse transcriptase. So far, thousands of studies reported that the variety of genome is closely related to the geographic distribution and clinical characteristics. Recent technological advances including capillary sequencer and next generation sequencer have made in easier to analyze mutations. The variety of HBV genome is related to not only antigenicity of HBs-antigen but also resistance to antiviral therapies. Understanding of these variations is important for the development of diagnostic tools and the appro

SUBMITTER: Yano Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4381181 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature