Gededzha Maemu P, Sondlane Tsakani H, Malinga Lesibana A, Burnett Rosemary J, Lebelo Ramokone L, Blackard Jason T, Mphahlele M Jeffrey, Selabe Selokela G
HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and National Health Laboratory Service, P.O. Box 173, MEDUNSA, 0204, Pretoria, South Africa.
Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, National Health Laboratory Service, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Virus Genes. 2018 Apr;54(2):190-198. doi: 10.1007/s11262-018-1536-5. Epub 2018 Feb 6.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide and the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in South Africa. The role of HBV in HCC is not well understood, although the HBV X gene has been implicated as a critical factor. Data on the HBV X gene in HIV-positive South Africans are limited; thus, we investigated X gene variability in 24 HIV-infected treatment-naïve patients at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital. Quantitative and qualitative HBV DNA tests were conducted using real-time and in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, respectively, targeting the complete HBV X gene. In-house PCR-positive samples were cloned using the P-Gem T-easy vector System II and sequenced. By phylogenetic analysis, X gene sequences were classified as subgenotype A1 (n = 15), A2 (n = 4), and D1 (n = 4), and one dual infection with subgenotypes as A1 and C. The basal core promoter mutations T1753C, A1762T, and G1764A were identified in the majority of sequences. Genotype D sequences had a 6-nucleotide insertion. In conclusion, subgenotype A1 was predominant, and a rare dual infection of HBV genotype A and C was detected. The 6-nucleotide insertion could represent a unique variant in the region and highlights the need for functional studies of HBV X gene variants, particularly from resource-limited settings.
乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染是全球主要的公共卫生问题，也是南非肝细胞癌（HCC）的主要病因。尽管HBV X基因被认为是一个关键因素，但HBV在HCC中的作用尚未完全明确。关于南非HIV阳性人群中HBV X基因的数据有限；因此，我们在乔治·穆哈里博士学术医院对24名未接受过治疗的HIV感染患者的X基因变异性进行了调查。分别使用针对完整HBV X基因的实时和内部聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测进行定量和定性HBV DNA检测。对内部PCR阳性样本使用P-Gem T-easy载体系统II进行克隆并测序。通过系统发育分析，X基因序列被分类为A1亚型（n = 15）、A2亚型（n = 4）和D1亚型（n = 4），还有一例为A1和C亚型的双重感染。在大多数序列中鉴定出了核心启动子的基础突变T1753C、A1762T和G1764A。D基因型序列有一个6核苷酸插入。总之，A1亚型占主导地位，并且检测到了罕见的HBV A基因型和C基因型双重感染。该6核苷酸插入可能代表该区域的一个独特变异，突出了对HBV X基因变异进行功能研究的必要性，特别是在资源有限的环境中。
