Biological Characterization of Hepatitis B virus Genotypes: Their Role in Viral Replication and Antigen Expression

TADEY, LUCIANA; CAMPOS, RODOLFO HÉCTOR; ELIZALDE, MARÍA MERCEDES; QUARLERI, JORGE FABIÁN; MAMMANA, LILIA; FLICHMAN, DIEGO MARTÍN

Frontiers in Microbiology

Frontiers Media S.A.

Lugar: Ginebra; Año: 2021

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) inter-host evolution has resulted in genomic diversification reflected in the existence of nine genotypes (A-I) and numerous subgenotypes. There is growing evidence that genotypes influence HBV natural history, clinical outcomes, and treatment response. However, the biological characteristics underlying these differences have not yet been established. By transfecting HuH-7 cells with unit-length constructs of genotypes A2, B2, C1, D1, and F1b, we identified major differences in HBV replicative capacity and antigen expression across genotypes. Genotypes B2 and F1b showed a 2-fold increase in cccDNA levels compared to the other genotypes (p