Detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype E carried--even in the presence of high titers of anti-HBs antibodies--by an Argentinean patient of African descent who had received vaccination against HBV

MATHET VL, CUESTAS ML, RUIZ V, MINASSIAN ML, RIVERO C, TRINKS J, DALEOSO G, LEON LM, SALA A ET AL

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY

Año: 2006 vol. 44 p. 3435 - 3439

0095-1137

Genotype E hepatitis B virus (HBV) was detected in two Argentine sisters exhibiting an African mitochondrial lineage. One of them (who had been vaccinated against HBV) exhibited anti-HBs cocirculating antibodies without HBsAg escape mutants, while her unvaccinated sister showed a D144A HBsAg escape mutant without anti-HBs antibodies. Both sisters carried an unusual L209V substitution within HBsAg.