Hepatitis B surface antigen variants in vaccinees, blood donors and an interferon-treated patient.
Variants of hepatitis B virus (HBV), with amino acid substitutions in the major antigenic "a" determinant of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), have been described mainly in vaccinated children. In the present study in addition to vaccinated children, we have investigated Chinese blood donors positive for anti-HBc alone, and a patient with continuing liver disease after interferon-induced seroconversion to anti-HBs. Variants were detected in two of four children with break-through infections. One child had a double mutation (P142S and G145R) and the other a G145A substitution. Three of seven anti-HBc positive Chinese blood donors had a T131I substitution, whilst the interferon-treated patient had a treble amino acid substitution (P142S, G145R and N146D). The present results indicate that HBsAg variants may exist in individuals other than vaccinated children.
Department of Medicine A, Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary's, South Wharf Road, London W2 1NY, UK.
S
S
Seddigh-Tonekaboni
W L
WL
Lim
B
B
Young
J L
JL
Hou
J
J
Waters
K X
KX
Luo
H C
HC
Thomas
P
P
Karayiannis
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D014611:Vaccination
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha