Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and subgenotypes may vary in geographical distribution and virological features. Previous investigations, including ours, showed that HBV genotypes B and C were respectively predominant in South and North China, while genotypes A and D were infrequently detected and genotype G was not found. In this study, a novel A/C/G intergenotype was identified in patients with chronic HBV infection in Guilin, a city in southern China. Initial phylogenetic analysis based on the S gene suggested the HBV recombinant to be genotype G. However, extended genotyping based on the entire HBV genome indicated it to be an A/C/G intergenotype with a closer relation to genotype C. Breakpoint analysis using the SIMPLOT program revealed that the recombinant had a recombination with a arrangement of genotypes A, G, A and C fragments. Compared with the HBV recombinants harboring one or two genotype G fragments found in Asian countries, this Guilin recombinant was highly similar to the Vietnam (98–99%) and Long An recombinants (96–99%), but had a relatively low similarity to the Thailand one (89%). Unlike those with the typical genotype G of HBV, the patients with the Guilin recombinant were seropositive for HBeAg. Moreover, a relatively high HBV DNA viral load (>2×106 IU/ml) was detected in the patients, and the analysis of viral replication capacity showed that the Guilin recombinant strains had a competent replication capacity similar to genotypes B and C strains. These findings can aid in not only the clarification of the phylogenetic origin of the HBV recombinants with the genotype G fragment found in Asian countries, but also the understanding of the virological properties of these complicated HBV recombinants.
Highlights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global public health problem
Several HBV recombinant genotypes with one or two genotype G fragments have been identified in Asian countries including China
In 2008, another HBV recombinant genotype with the genotype G fragments was identified in Vietnam [27], which is an intergenotype of genotypes A, C and G and was denominated as genotype I by the authors
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global public health problem. More than 240 million people worldwide are chronically infected and at risk of developing progressive liver disease including fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on sequence divergence in the entire genome exceeding 8% or in S gene exceeding 4%, HBV is currently classified into eight genotypes, designated A to H. It has been documented that HBV genotypes or subgenotypes vary in geographical distribution. Genotype A prevails in Europe, Americas and Africa. Genotype D has global distribution, but is predominant in the Mediterranean area. HBV genotype G is found mainly in the United States and Europe [12]. Recombinant forms between HBV genotypes A and D [14,15,16], B and C [17,18,19], C and D [20,21], C and G [22] and F and G [23] have been identified in several countries
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
