Analysis of the complete genome of subgroup A' hepatitis B virus isolates from South Africa

• Published in: Journal of general virology 2002-04, Vol.83 (4), p.835-839
• Main Authors: Kramvis, Anna, Weitzmann, Louise, Owiredu, William K. B. A, Kew, Michael C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Genome, Viral; Hepatitis B - classification; Hepatitis B - genetics; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - chemistry; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - genetics; Hepatitis B virus; Molecular Sequence Data; Open Reading Frames; Phylogeny; Protein Precursors - chemistry; Protein Precursors - genetics; South Africa
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-83-4-835

MRC/CANSA/University Molecular Hepatology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa 1 Author for correspondence: Michael Kew. Fax [phone]. e-mail mkew{at}chiron.wits.ac.za A phylogenetic analysis is presented of six complete and seven pre-S1/S2/S gene sequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) isolates from South Africa. Five of the full-length sequences and all of the pre-S2/S sequences have been previously reported. Four of the six complete genomes and three of the five incomplete sequences clustered with subgroup A', a unique segment of genotype A of HBV previously identified in 60% of South African isolates using analysis of the pre-S2/S region alone. This separation was also evident when the polymerase open reading frame was analysed, but not on analysis of either the X or pre-core/core genes. Amino acids were identified in the pre-S1 and polymerase regions specific to subgroup A'. In common with genotype D, 10 of 11 genotype A South African isolates had an 11 amino acid deletion in the amino end of the pre-S1 region. This deletion is also found in hepadnaviruses from non-human primates.