First hepatitis B virus full-length genomic study among blood donors from Argentina: unexpected mutations in the circulating subgenotypes' proteins.

. DELFINO CM; BERINI C,; PEDROZO W.; MALAN R.; BLEJER J.; OUBIÑA J. R.; BIGLIONE M.; MATHET M:

VIRUS GENES

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2015 vol. 50 p. 286 - 291

0920-8569

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a worldwide public health concern. The circulation of strains carrying mutations in the viral proteins implies both clinical and therapeutic challenges. HBV complete genomes (HBV-CG) were reported from injecting drug users, men having sex with men, and HBV chronically infected patients from Argentina -including Amerindians-, although no studies were conducted in blood donors. Here we described HBV-CG sequences from the latter population. Some of the HBV sequences classified as B2 and C2 subgenotypes, clustering together with Asian isolates, while others, such as D3, F1b and F4, were homologous to European (D3) and American (F1b and F4) sequences.. New substitutions for all analyzed ORFs and changes in the HBsAg hydrophobicity profiles were detected. Several HBV-CG subgenotypes are described for the first time in this population. Mutations described in X, PreS and P proteins have been associated with advanced liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma and/or natural resistance to nucleos(t)ide antiviral treatment. It deserves to be highlighted that these substitutions were detected in a population without epidemiological risk factors for viral infection, and most importantly, without any previous antiviral treatment (natural resistance). Regarding the remaining mutations, further research is warranted in order to determine their clinical and therapeutic relevance.