title: Novel subgenotypes of hepatitis B virus genotypes C and D in Papua, Indonesia.
abstract: Eight genotypes (A to H) and nine subtypes (adw2, adw4, ayw1, ayw2, ayw3, ayw4, adrq+, adrq-, and ayr) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been identified worldwide. They appear to be associated with geographical distribution, virological characteristics, and possibly clinical outcomes. We performed sequence analysis of part of the S gene and the entire precore/core gene of HBV isolates obtained from HBsAg-positive blood donors in Papua Province, Indonesia. Phylogenetic analysis of the S gene sequences revealed that 23 (85.2%) of the 27 HBV isolates tested belonged to genotype C (HBV/C) and 2 (7.4%) each to HBV/B and HBV/D. Interestingly, 19 (82.6%) of the 23 isolates of HBV/C clustered in a branch that was distinct from the previously reported subgenotypes C1 to C5 (HBV/C1 to HBV/C5). Similarly, two isolates of HBV/D clustered in a branch distinct from the reported subgenotypes HBV/D1 to HBV/D5. Phylogenetic analysis of the entire precore/core gene confirmed the consistent presence of the distinct branches in HBV/C and HBV/D. We therefore propose novel subgenotypes designated HBV/C6 and HBV/D6. The majority of HBV/C6 isolates in Papua had alanine at positions 159 and 177 (A159/A177) in the HBsAg. A159/A177 is different from the determinants for adrq+ (A159/V177), found throughout Asia, and adrq- (V159/A177), found in New Caledonia and Polynesia, possibly representing a unique antigenic group (provisionally referred to as adrq indeterminate). In conclusion, we have identified two novel HBV subgenotypes, HBV/C6 and HBV/D6, the first of which is the most prevalent subgenotype of HBV in Papua, Indonesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Tropical Disease Center, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Maria Inge
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lusida
authors.forename: Victor Eka
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Nugrahaputra
authors.lastname: Soetjipto
authors.forename: Retno
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Handajani
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagano-Fujii
authors.forename: Mikiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasayama
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Utsumi
authors.forename: Hak
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hotta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001782:Blood Donors; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens