Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify HBc amino acid differences between subgroups of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.
METHODS: Deep sequencing of HBc was performed in samples of 89 CHB patients (42 HBeAg positive, 47 HBeAg negative). Amino acid types were compared using Sequence Harmony to identify subgroup specific sites between HBeAg-positive and -negative patients, and between patients with combined response and non-response to peginterferon/adefovir combination therapy.
RESULTS: We identified 54 positions in HBc where the frequency of appearing amino acids was significantly different between HBeAg-positive and -negative patients. In HBeAg negative patients, 22 positions in HBc were identified which differed between patients with treatment response and those with non-response. The fraction non-consensus sequence on selected positions was significantly higher in HBeAg-negative patients, and was negatively correlated with HBV DNA and HBsAg levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Sequence Harmony identified a number of amino acid changes associated with HBeAg-status and response to peginterferon/adefovir combination therapy.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 213-225 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Antiviral research |
Volume | 158 |
Early online date | 16 Aug 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2018 |
Funding
Meike H. van der Ree: none; Louis Jansen: none; Matthijs Welkers: none; Hendrik W. Reesink: serves as a consultant for AbbVie, Alnylam, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, ENYO, Gilead Sciences, Janssen-Cilag, Merck, PRA Health Sciences, Regulus, Roche and R-Pharm and received grant/research support from AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, ENYO, Gilead Sciences, Janssen-Cilag, Merck, PRA Health Sciences, Regulus, Replicor and Roche; K. Anton Feenstra: none; Neeltje A. Kootstra: none. This study was funded by Roche the Netherlands.
Funders | Funder number |
---|---|
Roche |
Keywords
- Chronic hepatitis B
- Deep sequencing
- HBeAg status
- Hepatitis B virus core protein
- Treatment response