Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes: phylogenetic analysis and virological characteristics of genotype C circulating among HBV carriers in Kolkata, Eastern India.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the genotype distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Eastern India and to clarify the phylogenetic origin and virological characteristics of the recently identified genotype C in this region.


METHODS
Genotype determination, T1762/A1764 mutation in the basal core promoter (BCP) and A1896 mutation in the precore region of 230 subjects were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism method (RFLP) and the result was confirmed by direct sequencing.


RESULTS
The predominant genotypes D (HBV/D) and A (HBV/A) were detected in 131/230 (57%) and 57/230 (25%) samples. In addition, genotype C (HBV/C) was detected in 42/230 (18%) isolates. Surface gene region was sequenced from 45 isolates (27 HBV/C, 9 HBV/A and 9 HBV/D). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the HBV/C sequences clustered with South East Asian subgenotype (HBV/Cs). The sequence data showed remarkable similarity with a Thai strain (AF068756) (99.5% +/- 0.4% nucleotide identities) in 90% of the genotype C strains analyzed. T1762/A1764 mutation in BCP region, associated with high ALT was significantly higher in HBeAg negative isolates than HBeAg positive isolates. Frequency of A1896 mutation leading to HBeAg negativity was low.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study reports the genotypic distribution and the characteristics of partial genome sequences of HBV/C isolates from Eastern India. Low genetic diversity and confinement of HBV/C in Eastern India possibly indicate a recent, limited, spread in this region. Genotype C with T1762/A1764 mutation has been reported to increase the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma; therefore genotype C carriers in Eastern India should be carefully monitored.
Banerjee
Arup
A
ICMR Virus Unit, Kolkata 700010, India.
Datta
Sibnarayan
S
Chandra
Partha K
PK
Roychowdhury
Susanta
S
Panda
Chinmoy Kumar
CK
Chakravarty
Runu
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins