Hepatitis B virus genome variability and disease progression: the impact of pre-core mutants and HBV genotypes.
The hepatitis B virus (HBV), a member of the Hepadnaviridae family, is prone to mutations due to its asymmetric replication via reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. The estimated mutation rate of the hepadnavirus genome is 2 x 10(4) base substitutions/site/year. This mutation rate is approximately 100 times higher than that of other DNA viruses but between 100 and 1000 times lower than that of RNA viruses. Analyses of both naturally occurring viral variants and in vitro mutagenesis studies have identified some mutations that have a role in viral latency, pathogenesis of liver disease, immune escape, and resistance to antiviral therapy.
Buti
Maria
M
Liner Unit, Hospital General Universitari Pall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. mbuti@vhebron.net
Rodriguez-Frias
Francisco
F
Jardi
Rosendo
R
Esteban
Rafael
R
D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins