A new isolate of hepatitis B virus from the Philippines possibly representing a new subgenotype C6

J Med Virol. 2009 Jun;81(6):983-7. doi: 10.1002/jmv.21475.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and subgenotypes show distinct geographical prevalence. A genotyping analysis of 28 samples from asymptomatic HBV carriers from the Philippines gave a distribution of HBV genotypes as expected from a previous study: 54% B (15/28), C5 18% (5/28), 14% D (4/28), 7% A1 (2/28). In addition, 7% (2/28) of the samples showed a double infection with genotypes B and D. One of the isolates sequenced completely, ph105, did not group into one of the known subgenotypes after phylogenetic analysis. Ph105 formed a separate clade in genotype C. With a genome length of 3,215 nt. and a serological subtype adr, ph105 exhibited the main features of most genotype C strains. However, ph105 differed by 4.1-7.2% from HBV subgenotypes C1 to C5 when comparing the nucleotide sequence of whole genomes. With only 4.1% difference ph105 was most closely related to subgenotype C2. SimPlot analysis gave no indication for recombination with known HBV genotypes. Ph105 fulfils all criteria for a new subgenotype C6.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carrier State / virology*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • DNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Genome, Viral
  • Genotype
  • Hepatitis B / virology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / classification*
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Philippines
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Serotyping

Substances

  • DNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/EU410079
  • GENBANK/EU410080
  • GENBANK/EU410081
  • GENBANK/EU410082
  • GENBANK/EU670263
  • GENBANK/EU670264
  • GENBANK/EU670265