title: Drug-related mutational patterns in hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase proteins from Iranian treatment-naïve chronic HBV patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunomodulators and Nucleotide analogues have been used globally for the dealing of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the development of drug resistance is a major limitation to their long-term effectiveness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to characterize the hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase (RT) protein variations among Iranian chronic HBV carriers who did not receive any antiviral treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatitis B virus partial RT genes from 325 chronic in active carrier patients were amplified and directly sequenced. Nucleotide/amino acid substitutions were identified compared to the sequences obtained from the database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All strains belonging to genotype D.365 amino-acid substitutions were found. Mutations related to lamivudine, adefovir, telbivudine, and entecavir occurred in (YMDD) 4% (n = 13), (SVQ) 17.23% (n = 56), (M204I/V + L180M) 2.45% (n = 8) and (M204I) 2.76% (n = 9) of patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RT mutants do occur naturally and could be found in HBV carriers who have never received antiviral therapy. However, mutations related to drug resistance in Iranian treatment-naïve chronic HBV patients were found to be higher than other studies published formerly. Chronic HBV patients should be monitored closely prior the commencement of therapy to achieve the best regimen option.
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis B Molecular Laboratory, Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahabadi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norouzi
authors.forename: Seyed Moayyed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.forename: Katayoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samimirad
authors.forename: Talat Mokhtari
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Azad
authors.forename: Esmaeil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saberfar
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoodi
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramezani
authors.forename: Hadi
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authors.lastname: Karimzadeh
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
authors.forename: Ghodrat
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montazeri
authors.forename: Azim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nejatizadeh
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziaee
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abedi
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataei
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaran
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sayad
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hossein Somi
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarizadeh
authors.forename: Ismaeil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanei-Moghaddam
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mansour-Ghanaei
authors.forename: Houshang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rafatpanah
authors.forename: Mohammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pourhosseingholi
authors.forename: Hossain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyvani
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalantari
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saberifiroozi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali Judaki
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghamari
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daram
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fazeli
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khedive
authors.forename: Abdolvahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: Seyed Mohamad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jazayeri
keywords: Drug-Resistance; Hepatitis B Virus; Iran; Therapy