title: Hepatitis B virus escape mutants induced by antiviral therapy.
abstract: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase and envelope genes overlap in such a way that resistance mutations to antiviral agents in the reverse transcriptase gene may affect the antigenicity of the HBV surface antigen. Mutant viruses may escape serological diagnosis using specific anti-HBV surface antigen antibodies, causing occult forms of chronic hepatitis B. Moreover, these HBV strains may evade vaccine protection, representing a public health challenge. Thus, the circulation of HBVs encoding envelope mutations selected by antiviral agents requires close monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents