Nucleotide Sequence of a Cloned Hepatitis B Virus Genome, Subtype ayr: Comparison with Genomes of the Other Three Subtypes

Abstract

SUMMARYThe entire nucleotide sequence of genomic DNA was determined for hepatitis B virus (HBV) of subtype ayr, which had been derived from the blood of a Japanese asymptomatic carrier. The genome was 3215 nucleotides long, and differed in DNA sequence by 10 ~ from that of subtypes adw or ayw, but by only 2 9/0 from that of subtype adr. Amino acid sequences coded for by the S, C, P and X genes, as well as by the pre-S region, closely resembled those of subtype adr, indicating that the evolution of HBV/ayr from HBV/adr was more recent than the differentiation of the other three subtypes. In the product of the S gene, the mutually exclusive subtypic determinants of the surface antigen, d and y, were associated with variation of amino acid residues at only the 68th and 122nd positions from the N terminus, in contrast to the variation at as many as seven positions for the other set of subtypic determinants, w and r. Sequences representing high local hydrophilicity in the product of the S gene were involved in subtypic variation, although such sequences in the pre-S region were shared by HBV genomes of the various subtypes. In particular, a hydrophilic sequence of 19 amino acid residues, coded for by the pre-S(2) region and implicated in the presumed hepatotropism of HBV, was possessed in common by HBV/adr, HBV/ayr and HBV/ayw, and differed in HBV/adw by only one residue at the 9th position. This amino acid sequence appears to be a promising candidate for a synthetic peptide vaccine.

Nomenclature for antiviral-resistant human hepatitis B virus mutations in the polymerase region

“…14,15 Consequently, HBV consists of at least 7 different genotypes (A through G). 14,[16][17][18][19][20] Additionally, another 5 HBV genotypes have been isolated from gibbons, 21,22 chimpanzees, 23,24 gorillas, 25 and orangutans. 26 Until recently, these cases represented infected animals kept in zoos or research primate centers, but evidence is now available of HBV infections in wild-born animals.…”

Comparison of the amino acid sequences of nine different serotypes of hepatitis B surface antigen and genomic classification of the corresponding hepatitis B virus strains

“…The third group consisted of the eight previously sequenced HBV clones within group C, specifying adw, (1988), E and F the proposed new genomic groups. Sequences of the clones are from: pHBV320, Bichko et aL (1985); pBRHBadr4, Fujiyama et aL (1983); EcoHBVDNA, Galibert et al (1979); pHBV1-1, Kobayashi et al (1984); pYRB259, Okamoto et al (1986); pSK619, Okamoto et al (1987a);pODW282, pHBB1, pJDW233, pNDR260, pYWB796, pPYW310, pAK66 and plWK146, Okamoto et al (1988); pHBV933 and pHBr330, Ono et aL (1983); pRTB299, Sastrosoewignjo et al (1985). belonging to groups A to D, and by 6.6% to 7.7% from each other, they were classified into separate groups (Fig.…”

Functional Characterization of Interferon Regulation Element of Hepatitis B virus Genome In Vivo

“…Therefore, INFa/b can activate transcription of genes possessing ISRE/IRE sequence in their promoters or enhancers [6,18,27]. Previous analysis suggested that an ISRE/IRE sequence was present in the enhancer 1/X gene promoter region of HBV genomic DNA [9,25]. The presence of HBV-IRE suggested that interferon might directly regulate HBV transcription and, consequently, HBV replication [24].…”