Subtypes, Genotypes and Molecular Epidemiology of the Hepatitis B Virus as Reflected by Sequence Variability of the S-Gene

作者：Lars O. Magnius, Heléne Norder · 发表于：Intervirology · 年份：1995 · DOI：10.1159/000150411 · 被引用次数：403 · 研究领域：Hepatitis B Virus Studies、Hepatitis C virus research、Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology

The serologic heterogeneity of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been established from immunodiffusion experiments for a long time. Four serotypes called subtypes of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have been defined by two mutually exclusive determinant pairs, d/y and w/r, and a common determinant a. These subtypes are adw, ayw, adr and ayr. By subdivision of the four major subtypes in the mid-70s, nine different subtypes were identified. Sequencing of viral genomes has now become a major goal of descriptive virology, and sequence data is now used to trace routes of infection, to reconstruct the phylogenetic history of viruses and two delimit genetic subtypes. A genetic classification based on the comparison of complete genomes has defined four genomic groups of HBV, later referred upon as genotypes, which were designated with A-D. However, the interrelation of the nine subtypes to the genotypes, the possible presence of more than four human HBV genotypes as well as their global geographical prevalence remained to be determined. By sequencing the S-gene of HBV the molecular basis was assessed for the serological variations of HBsAg within the major four subtypes. Thereby, also two new genotypes of HBV designated with E and F were identified. Complete genomic sequencing of E and F strains confirmed their status as new genotypes. The F genotype was found to diverge from other HBV genomes sequenced by 14%, thus being the most divergent HBV genome so far characterized. When...