title: Genetic variation of hepatitis B surface antigen coding region among infants with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Variants in the amino acid composition of the primary antibody-binding site of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have been identified in a number of populations with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Direct sequencing of amplified or cloned PCR products, solid phase detection of sequence-specific PCR products (SP-PCR), and limiting dilution cloning PCR (LDC-PCR) were compared to determine their sensitivity in detecting differing concentrations of HBsAg variants. LDC-PCR had the greatest sensitivity and could detect HBsAg variants at a concentration of 0.1% of the total viral population. HBsAg variants were detected in 51% of infants with chronic HBV infection acquired after postexposure prophylaxis, and more than half of the variants were detected only by the most sensitive methods.
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Hepatitis (World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Reference in Viral Hepatitis), National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. ovn1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Omana V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Nainan
authors.forename: Marina L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Khristova
authors.forename: KwanSoo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Cladd E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Harold S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Margolis
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin