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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2001, p. 3200-3203, Vol. 39, No. 9
Department of Clinical Virology,
Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
Received 19 January 2001/Accepted 13 July 2001
Mutations that prevent the expression of the hepatitis B e antigen
frequently emerge in the immunoreactive phase of infection. The
predominant mutation, the precore G
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.9.3200-3203.2001
Phylogenetic Origin of Hepatitis B Virus Strains
with Precore C-1858 Variant
A-1896 mutation, is restricted by
the variability at position 1858 and is rare in strains with cytosine
at nucleotide 1858. The C-1858 variant is characteristic of genotype A. It also occurs in genotypes C and F, but not in B, D, or E, explaining
the geographical variation in the prevalence of precore mutants. C-1858
strains have been frequently observed in southeast Asia, but have not
been phylogenetically characterized. By sequencing eight complete
hepatitis B virus genomes, C-1858 variants of east Asian origin were
found to constitute a phylogenetic entity within genotype C that
probably diverged several hundred years ago. Further study of the
distribution of this variant is warranted.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of
Clinical Virology, Guldhedsgatan 10B, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
Phone: 46 31 3424976. Fax: 46 31 827032. E-mail:
magnus.lindh{at}microbio.gu.se.
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