Microorganisms (Apr 2023)

Hepatitis B Virus Genotype D: An Overview of Molecular Epidemiology, Evolutionary History, and Clinical Characteristics

  • Thaís B. Sant’Anna,
  • Natalia M. Araujo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051101
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 5
p. 1101

Abstract

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The hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype D (HBV/D) is the most extensively distributed genotype worldwide with distinct molecular and epidemiological features. This report provides an up-to-date review on the history of HBV/D subgenotyping and misclassifications, along with large-scale analysis of over 1000 HBV/D complete genome sequences, with the aim of gaining a thorough understanding of the global prevalence and geographic distribution of HBV/D subgenotypes. We have additionally explored recent paleogenomic findings, which facilitated the detection of HBV/D genomes dating back to the late Iron Age and provided new perspectives on the origins of modern HBV/D strains. Finally, reports on distinct disease outcomes and responses to antiviral therapy among HBV/D subgenotypes are discussed, further highlighting the complexity of this genotype and the importance of HBV subgenotyping in the management and treatment of hepatitis B.

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