title: Low replication and variability of HBV pre-core in concomitant infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses.
abstract: In an attempt to define the virological profile of HBV in HCV co-infection, we analysed the viral load, the infecting genotype, and the mutational pattern of the HBV pre-core region (pre-C), which is involved in viral encapsidation and DNA replication. Eighty-six patients were studied: 32 with serological HBV/HCV-1b co-infection (group BC), 32 infected by HBV alone (group B), and 22 by HCV-1b alone (group C). Sequence analysis of the HBV pre-S and pre-C regions identified genotypes and mutational patterns. The HBV viral load was significantly lower in group BC than in group B (p < 0.001), and the distribution of HBV pre-C mutations showed a higher prevalence of wild type in concomitant infection than in the control group (p < 0.006). The predominant HBV infecting strain was genotype D in both the BC (96%) and B (87%) groups. No difference was observed in HCV viremia levels between the two groups, whereas in HBV/HCV infection, the low levels of circulating HBV were closely associated with the low degree of variability of pre-C domain (p = 0.005). In conclusion, in HBV/HCV infection, the virological pattern was characterised by the dominance of HCV associated with lower HBV replication capacity and decreased emergence of HBV pre-C variants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardioangiology and Hepatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. sdemitri@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: De Mitri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morsica
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cassini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagaglio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loggi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernardi
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral