| Literature DB >> 18218641 |
Julie Sheldon1, Vincent Soriano.
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase and envelope genes overlap in such a way that resistance mutations to antiviral agents in the reverse transcriptase gene may affect the antigenicity of the HBV surface antigen. Mutant viruses may escape serological diagnosis using specific anti-HBV surface antigen antibodies, causing occult forms of chronic hepatitis B. Moreover, these HBV strains may evade vaccine protection, representing a public health challenge. Thus, the circulation of HBVs encoding envelope mutations selected by antiviral agents requires close monitoring.Entities:
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Year: 2008 PMID: 18218641 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkn014
Source DB: PubMed Journal: J Antimicrob Chemother ISSN: 0305-7453 Impact factor: 5.790