title: Muto ergo sum. Hepatitis B and the forces of evolution.
abstract: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase has no editing function and thus frequently transcribes its template incorrectly to result in viral variants that go under the name of "mutants." These mutants may be viewed as part of a continuing Darwinian evolution of HBV with some survival benefit. They also result in unusual extrahepatic manifestations of HBV infection, which will doubtless continue to divert the hepatologist.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lucey
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*