title: Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis B virus genotype G isolated in Germany.
abstract: Genotype G of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has only recently been discovered. This report describes the full-length sequence of genotype G HBV (designated 235/01) isolated in Germany from a chronic HBV carrier. The patient was hepatitis B e antigen-positive, had high HBV DNA levels of about 10(10) copies/ml serum, lacked a measurable anti-HBc response, and was coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Genome 235/01 showed characteristic genotype G-specific features: stop codons at codon 2 and 28 of the pre-C region and insertion of 36 nucleotides at the 5' end of the C gene. It was nearly identical (< or = 99.7% identity) to both genotype G genomes (B1-89 and FR1 from France) described so far, suggesting either close epidemiological link among European genotype G isolates or high genetic stability of genotype G.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vieth
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manegold
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drosten
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nippraschk
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Günther
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D015497:HIV-1; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral