A novel recombinant of Hepatitis B virus genotypes G and C isolated from a Thai patient with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Genomic recombination between different genotypes of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) resulting in hybrid strains has been increasingly documented. In this study, a novel recombinant of HBV genotypes G and C isolated from a Thai patient with hepatocellular carcinoma is reported. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the S, P and X genes and the entire genome, the HBV isolate clustered on a branch within genotype G, but clustered with genotype C on analysis of the C gene. Using the program simplot and bootscanning analysis, the recombination breakpoints were located at nt 1860 and 2460 of the precore/core region. The hallmarks of the original genotype G, including a 36 bp insertion in the core region and dual stop codons in the precore region, were not identified in this isolate. These data should encourage further investigations on the epidemiological and virological characteristics of HBV genotype G involved in recombination with other genotypes.
Suwannakarn
Kamol
K
Center of Excellence in Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Pediatrics, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Rama IV Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Tangkijvanich
Pisit
P
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Theamboonlers
Apiradee
A
Center of Excellence in Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Pediatrics, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Rama IV Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Abe
Kenji
K
Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Poovorawan
Yong
Y
Center of Excellence in Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Pediatrics, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Rama IV Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013785:Thailand; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins