Address of Corresponding Author

Intervirology 2005;48:192-200 (DOI: 10.1159/000081748)

  Key Words

• Hepatitis B virus
• Hepatitis C virus
• Genotype
• Subtypes
• Variant
• Mutation

  Abstract

The incidence of genome variants of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses among 38 long-term (2-15 years) immunosuppressed patients after renal transplantation and 10 patients undergoing dialysis was investigated. Twelve patients had only HBV infection, 9 had only HCV infection and 14 were co-infected. Regions corresponding to the HBV X/EnII/BCP, preC/C, preS/S and to the HCV core were sequenced for molecular characterization of the HBV and HCV genomes. Fifty-seven percent of HBV DNA isolates belonged to genotype D and 42% to genotype A, whereas 77% of HCV RNA isolates belonged to genotype 1b and only 17% to genotype 3a. One sample (6%) was of genotype 2c. Detailed analysis of the above-mentioned HBV genome regions revealed the presence of nucleotide point mutations, which, in some cases, resulted in amino acid substitutions. The clinical significance of such mutations is discussed.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

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  Author Contacts

Irina Sominskaya
Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia
Ratsupites 1
LV-1067 Riga (Latvia)
Tel. +371 7808212, Fax +371 7442407, E-Mail irina@biomed.lu.lv

  Article Information

Received: February 2, 2004
Accepted after revision: September 10, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 48

  Publication Details

Intervirology (International Journal of Basic and Medical Virology)

Vol. 48, No. 2-3, Year 2005 (Cover Date: March-June 2005)

Journal Editor: U.G. Liebert, Leipzig
ISSN: 0300-5526 (print), 1423-0100 (Online)

For additional information: http://www.karger.com/int

  Drug Dosage / Copyright

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