title: Structural and functional analysis of full-length hepatitis B virus genomes in patients: implications in pathogenesis.
abstract: The structural analysis, replicative efficiency and immunogenicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) full-length genomes isolated from different patients or asymptomatic carriers are presented in the present review. Data indicate the importance of viral genome-based studies in elucidating the pathogenesis of HBV infections. Comparison of structural and functional characteristics of viral genomes isolated from various geographical regions might contribute to explaining the differences in HBV clinical manifestation and prognosis in different geographical regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China. ymwen@shmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral