Phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype F including argentine isolates

MBAYED VA; BARBINI L; LOPEZ JL; CAMPOS RH

ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY

Springer-Verlag Wien

Lugar: Heidelberg, Alemania; Año: 2001 vol. 146 p. 1803 - 1810

0304-8608

Summary. Seven human hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes have been described. Genotype F, indigenous to the Americas, is the most diverging group. Our in-depth analysis of the genetic distances of this genotype included ten Argentine samples. Phylogenetic analysis on the small (S) gene of the surface antigen showed four different clusters within genotype F, which were associated with a well-defined geographical origin. Even closely connected sequences sharing a common ancestor had shown some characteristics or markers indicating geographical differentiation. Nucleotide sequences and amino acids translated according to the polymerase open reading frame (P-ORF), rather than S-ORF, yielded a more discriminating analysis.