Abstract
Variants in the amino acid composition of the primary antibody-binding site of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have been identified in a number of populations with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Direct sequencing of amplified or cloned PCR products, solid phase detection of sequence-specific PCR products (SP-PCR), and limiting dilution cloning PCR (LDC-PCR) were compared to determine their sensitivity in detecting differing concentrations of HBsAg variants. LDC-PCR had the greatest sensitivity and could detect HBsAg variants at a concentration of 0.1% of the total viral population. HBsAg variants were detected in 51% of infants with chronic HBV infection acquired after postexposure prophylaxis, and more than half of the variants were detected only by the most sensitive methods.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 319-327 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Medical Virology |
Volume | 68 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 Nov 1 |
Keywords
- "a" determinant mutants
- Detection of HBsAg variants
- HBsAg variants
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- Postexposure prophylaxis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases