Researchers from Kobe University publish new studies and findings in the area of hepatitis B virus
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Each hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and subgenotype is associated with a particular geographic distribution, ethnicity, and anthropological history. Our previous study showed the novel HBV subgenotypes C6 (HBV/C6) and D6 (HBV/D6), based on the S gene sequences of isolates in Papua, Indonesia," investigators in Kobe, Japan report. "The present study investigated the complete genome sequence of 22 strains from Papua and subjected them to molecular evolutionary analysis. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that 9 out of 22 strains were classified as HBV/C6, 3 strains as HBV/D6, and 9 strains as HBV/B3. A particular strain positioned between HBV/B3 and HBV/B5 remained unclassifiable into any known subgenotypes. This strain showed high homology with HBV/C5 from the Philippines in the core region and was thought to have undergone genetic recombination with HBV/C5. Further studies are needed to determine whether this strain belongs to a new subgenotype of HBV/B. Based on the amino acid alignment, HBV/C6 has subgenotype specific variations (G18V and V47M) in the S region. HBV/C6 strains were more closely related in terms of evolutionary distance to strains from the east Asia and Pacific regions than those found in southeast Asia. HBV/D6 strains were most closely related to strains from the Western countries (HBV/D3) rather than those from Asia and Papua New Guinea," wrote T. Utsumi and colleagues, Kobe University. The researchers concluded: "We have confirmed by complete sequence analysis that two novel HBV subgenotypes, HBV/C6 and HBV/D6, are prevalent in Papua, Indonesia.." Utsumi and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology (Complete Genome Sequence and Phylogenetic Relatedness of Hepatitis B Virus Isolates in Papua, Indonesia. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2009;47(6):1842-1847). For additional information, contact H. Hotta, Kobe University, Graduate School Medical, Chuo Ku, Dept. of Microbiology & Infectious Disease, 7-5-1 Kusunoki Cho, Kobe, Hyogo 6500017, Japan. The publisher of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology can be contacted at: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA. Keywords: Japan, Kobe, Clinical Microbiology, Gastroenterology, HBV, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatology, Infectious Disease, Molecular Evolution, Virology, Kobe University. This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Hepatitis Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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