Annals of Hepatology (Sep 2021)

P-119 GENETIC VARIABILITY OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS AMONG DIFFERENT PHASES OF CHRONIC INFECTION AND HIV COINFECTION IN BRAZIL

  • Livia Melo Villar,
  • Bianca Leires Marques,
  • Larissa Tropiano da Silva Andrade,
  • Vanessa Alves Marques,
  • Moyra Machado Portilho,
  • Lia Laura Lewis-Ximenez,
  • Barbara Vieira do Lago

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24
p. 100479

Abstract

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Introduction: Molecular studies regarding hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are essential as the disease severity depends on these specifications. Objectives: This study aims to determine HBV genotypes and subgenotypes, nucleos(t)ide analogs (NA) resistance, and HBsAg escape mutations in HBV patients according to different phases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HIV status. Methods: A total of 93 HBsAg+ patients over 18 years of age were included. Four different phases of CHB have included: 10 immune tolerant phases (IT), 5 immune reactive HBeAg positive phase (IR), 46 low replicative (LR) state, 23 HBeAg-negative CHB (ENH), and also 9 HIV/ HBV coinfected individuals. Samples were submitted to PCR for detecting an overlapping poI/ S gene region and direct sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using Mega-X software, identification of vaccine escape and NA resistance was made using the Geno2Pheno HBV website. Results: Mean age was 44.5± 13.3 years and most of HBV subjects were males (56.9%). Most of the individuals presented genotype A (75.3%) irrespective of group, subgenotype A1 (61 3%), followed by genotypes D (17.3%), F (6.4%), E (1.1%). Genotypes D and F were prevalent in LR group (75% and 66.6%, respectively) and genotype E was found only in IT group (1/1). It was not found NA resistance described to common antiviral treatment. However, high frequency of some specific mutations was found in all groups, such as, M129L (72.0%); W1 53RW (36 5%); V1 63I (64.5%); I253V (55.9%); V278IV (30.1%). Seven subjects (7.5%) presented HBsAg escape mutation of whom the majority had genotype A (85.7%) and belongs to LR group (57.1%); 1 had genotype D (14.3%), 2 were HIV/ HBV coinfected (28.6%) and 1 was ENH (14.3%). Conclusions: It was found a high prevalence of genotype A1 irrespective of CHB phase or HIV coinfection and HBsAg escape mutations could impact antiviral treatment and diagnosis.