Genotype Analysis, Using PCR with Type-Specific Primers, of Hepatitis B Virus Isolates from Patients Coinfected with Hepatitis Delta Virus Genotype II from Miyako Island, Japan

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA-positive patients and to characterize the HBV nucleotide sequences that may be found on a distant island of Japan. Methods: This study included three patients with chronic hepatitis who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; ELISA), HDV antibody (ELISA) and HDV RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The HBV genotype was determined by nested PCR using type-specific primers. The first-round PCR products from two patients were sequenced, followed by an investigation of nucleotide homology. Results: Viruses from all three patients in this study were classified as HBV genotype B. Comparison with HBV isolates from geographically neighboring regions revealed that the two HBV isolates had 97.9–98.6% identity at the nucleotide level to a Chinese isolate, 98.3–98.6% identity to the Okinawa isolate and 98.6–98.8% identity to a Japanese isolate of genotype B. On phylogenetic analysis, the HBV isolates from the two patients were classified as HBV genotype B. The HBV isolates of cases 1 and 3 clustered in the same group as isolates from the Chinese mainland and Japanese mainland, which are geographically near Miyako Island. Conclusion: The HBV isolates coinfected with HDV found on Miyako Island were of genotype B. The PCR method based on genotype-specific primers was useful in determining HBV genotypes.

A meta-analysis on genetic variability of RT/HBsAg overlapping region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) isolates of Bangladesh

“…Genotype-serotype analysis of Bangladeshi HBV sequences showed a strong correlation such as 95.56, 94.44, and 100% of genotypes C, A, and D belong to subtypes adr , adw , and ayw , respectively [30]. The nucleotides diversity determines the HBV genotype and genotype-specific primers designing followed by PCR can differentiate specific genotypes [23, 31, 32]. Whereas the HBV serotype (subtype) is based on the amino acid positions 122 and 160 of HBsAg [33, 34].…”

YMDD Mutations and Genotypes of Hepatitis B Virus in Northern China

“…The genotypes of HBV have distinct geographical distributions. Hepatitis B genotypes are associated with virus replication, virus variation, disease prognosis and the choice of drugs (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). In this study, the relationship between the YMDD mutations of HBV and HBV genotypes during lamivudine treatment is determined.…”