title: Analysis of the complete genome of subgroup A' hepatitis B virus isolates from South Africa.
abstract: A phylogenetic analysis is presented of six complete and seven pre-S1/S2/S gene sequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) isolates from South Africa. Five of the full-length sequences and all of the pre-S2/S sequences have been previously reported. Four of the six complete genomes and three of the five incomplete sequences clustered with subgroup A', a unique segment of genotype A of HBV previously identified in 60% of South African isolates using analysis of the pre-S2/S region alone. This separation was also evident when the polymerase open reading frame was analysed, but not on analysis of either the X or pre-core/core genes. Amino acids were identified in the pre-S1 and polymerase regions specific to subgroup A'. In common with genotype D, 10 of 11 genotype A South African isolates had an 11 amino acid deletion in the amino end of the pre-S1 region. This deletion is also found in hepadnaviruses from non-human primates.
authors.affiliation: MRC/CANSA/University Molecular Hepatology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa1.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kramvis
authors.affiliation: MRC/CANSA/University Molecular Hepatology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa1.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weitzmann
authors.affiliation: MRC/CANSA/University Molecular Hepatology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa1.
authors.forename: William K B A
authors.initials: WKBA
authors.lastname: Owiredu
authors.affiliation: MRC/CANSA/University Molecular Hepatology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa1.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kew
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; C050806:presurface protein 1, hepatitis B surface antigen; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen