Jiawen Wang1, Panli Zhang1, Jinfeng Zeng2, Peng Du1, Xin Zheng2, Xianlin Ye2, Weigang Zhu2, Yongshui Fu3, Daniel Candotti4, Jean-Pierre Allain5, Chengyao Li6, Tingting Li7. 1. Department of Transfusion Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. 2. Shenzhen Blood Center, Shenzhen, China. 3. Guangzhou Blood Center, Guangzhou, China. 4. Department of Blood Transmitted Agents, National Institute of Blood Transfusion, Paris, France. 5. Department of Transfusion Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Emeritus Professor, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. 6. Department of Transfusion Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: chengyaoli@hotmail.com. 7. Department of Transfusion Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: apple-ting-007@163.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) carries a risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and hepatocellular carcinoma. As previous studies have had a limited sample size, the characteristics of OBI with genotype B and C (OBIB and OBIC) mutations relating to hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) elicited by vaccination or a limited host immune response to HBV have not been fully explored. METHODS: In this study, the occurrence of OBIB or OBIC strains associated with envelope protein (pre-S/S) amino acid substitutions obtained from 99 blood donors stratified according to anti-HBs carriage were characterized extensively. RESULTS: According to the presence of anti-HBs within each genotype, the number and frequency of substitution sites specific for anti-HBs(-) OBIB were higher than those specific for anti-HBs(+) OBIB strains (67 vs 31; 117 vs 41), but the reverse pattern was found in OBIC strains (3 vs 24; 3 vs 26). Mutations pre-s1T68I and sQ129R/L were found uniquely in 15-25% of anti-HBs(+) OBIB carriers and mutation pre-s1A54E was found preferentially in anti-HBs(+) OBIC, while 17 substitutions were found preferentially in 11-38% of anti-HBs(-) OBIB strains. In the major hydrophilic region (MHR) region, mutations sS167 in OBIB, sT118 in OBIC, and sA166 in both genotypes were possibly immune-induced escape mutation sites. CONCLUSIONS: Several mutations in pre-S/S of OBI appeared to be associated with carrier anti-HBs pressure, which might be risk factors for potential reactivation of viruses under anti-HBs selection in OBI carriers.
OBJECTIVES:Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) carries a risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and hepatocellular carcinoma. As previous studies have had a limited sample size, the characteristics of OBI with genotype B and C (OBIB and OBIC) mutations relating to hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) elicited by vaccination or a limited host immune response to HBV have not been fully explored. METHODS: In this study, the occurrence of OBIB or OBIC strains associated with envelope protein (pre-S/S) amino acid substitutions obtained from 99 blood donors stratified according to anti-HBs carriage were characterized extensively. RESULTS: According to the presence of anti-HBs within each genotype, the number and frequency of substitution sites specific for anti-HBs(-) OBIB were higher than those specific for anti-HBs(+) OBIB strains (67 vs 31; 117 vs 41), but the reverse pattern was found in OBIC strains (3 vs 24; 3 vs 26). Mutations pre-s1T68I and sQ129R/L were found uniquely in 15-25% of anti-HBs(+) OBIB carriers and mutation pre-s1A54E was found preferentially in anti-HBs(+) OBIC, while 17 substitutions were found preferentially in 11-38% of anti-HBs(-) OBIB strains. In the major hydrophilic region (MHR) region, mutations sS167 in OBIB, sT118 in OBIC, and sA166 in both genotypes were possibly immune-induced escape mutation sites. CONCLUSIONS: Several mutations in pre-S/S of OBI appeared to be associated with carrier anti-HBs pressure, which might be risk factors for potential reactivation of viruses under anti-HBs selection in OBI carriers.
Authors: Livia Melo Villar; Ketlyn Araujo Fraga; Ana Carolina da Fonseca Mendonça; Juliana Custódio Miguel; Elisangela Ferreira da Silva; Jakeline Ribeiro Barbosa; Paulo Sérgio Fonseca de Sousa; Lia Laura Lewis-Ximenez; Francisco Campello do Amaral Mello Journal: Braz J Infect Dis Date: 2022-05-31 Impact factor: 3.257
Authors: Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury; Anna L McNaughton; Mohammad Robed Amin; Lovely Barai; Mili Rani Saha; Tanjila Rahman; Bikash Chandra Das; M Rokibul Hasan; K M Shahidul Islam; M A Faiz; Mamun Al-Mahtab; Jolynne Mokaya; Barbara Kronsteiner; Katie Jeffery; Monique I Andersson; Mariateresa de Cesare; M Azim Ansari; Susanna Dunachie; Philippa C Matthews Journal: J Gen Virol Date: 2021-07 Impact factor: 3.891