Identification of novel recombinants of hepatitis B virus genotypes F and G in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients from Argentina and Brazil.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype G (HBV/G) infection is almost always detected along with a co-infecting HBV strain that can supply HBeAg, typically HBV/A2. In this study we describe, in two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients from Argentina and Brazil, the first report of HBV/G infection in Argentina and co-circulation of HBV/G, HBV/F and G/F recombinants in the American continent. HBV isolates carrying the 36 bp insertion of HBV/G were the most prevalent in both patients, with >99 % of colonies hybridizing to a probe specific for this insertion. Phylogenetic analyses of full-length genomes and precore/core fragments revealed that F4 and F1b were the co-infecting subgenotypes in the Brazilian and Argentinian patients, respectively. Bootscanning analysis provided evidence of recombination in several clones from both patients, with recombination breakpoints located mainly at the precore/core region. These data should encourage further investigations on the clinical implications of HBV/G recombinants in HBV/HIV co-infected patients.
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil.
Natalia M
NM
Araujo
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil.
Oscar C
OC
Araujo
Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon - INSERM U 1052/CNRS UMR 5286, 69424 Lyon Cedex 03, France.
Edinete M
EM
Silva
Hepatology Division, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-970, Brazil.
Cristiane A
CA
Villela-Nogueira
Hepatology Division, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-970, Brazil.
Letícia C
LC
Nabuco
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Prof. Edgard Santos University Hospital, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-060, Brazil.
Raymundo
R
Parana
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Rosario School of Medicine, Rosario 2000, Argentina.
Fernando
F
Bessone
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil.
Selma A
SA
Gomes
Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon - INSERM U 1052/CNRS UMR 5286, 69424 Lyon Cedex 03, France.
Christian
C
Trepo
Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon - INSERM U 1052/CNRS UMR 5286, 69424 Lyon Cedex 03, France.
Alan
A
Kay
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001118:Argentina; D001483:Base Sequence; D001938:Brazil; D060085:Coinfection / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny