title: Molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of hepatitis B virus in Mar del Plata city, Argentina.
abstract: The aim of this work was to describe the current molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of HBV in Mar del Plata, an important Argentinean touristic city. The phylogenetic analysis of 29 HBV DNA positive serum samples showed that F1b was the predominant subgenotype (sgt, 62.1%), followed by sgt A2 (13.8%) and sgt F4, gt D and gt G (6.9% each). Among anti-HBc IgM positive samples, 75.0% were sgt F1b, followed by sgt F4 (12.5%), sgt A2 (6.25%) and sgt D (6.25%). Three recombinant full length genomes were found: two G/F1b (some of the first gt G detected in Argentina) and one F4/D2. The circulation of clinical important mutations in the city was described. Mutations at the HBsAg were detected in 34.5% of the analyzed samples, associated with laboratory diagnosis and antiviral treatment failures, immune escape and hepatocellular carcinoma. Most of the samples presented wild type BCP/PC sequences. Coalescence analysis for the most prevalent sgt F1b estimated that the diversification mainly occured during mid '90s and the tMRCA was estimated in 1987. Finally, the high presence of the autochthonous sgt F1b, associated with the anti-HBc IgM positive infection and its present-day diversification process, shows the strong impact of internal human migratory movements into the current population of Mar del Plata.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Virología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4(to) piso. (1113), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: lbarbini@ffyb.uba.ar.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbini
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elizalde
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campos
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Coalescence; Diversity; Epidemiology; Hepatits B virus; Mar del Plata; Recombination