Characteristics of hepatitis B virus genotype G coinfected with genotype H in chimeric mice carrying human hepatocytes

Virology. 2008 Jul 5;376(2):408-15. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.04.001. Epub 2008 May 13.

Abstract

Accumulated evidence indicated that hepatitis B virus genotype G (HBV/G) is present exclusively in coinfection with other HBV genotypes. In Mexico, HBV/G from 6 men who had sex with men were coinfected with HBV/H. Phylogenetically complete genomes of the 6 Mexican HBV/G strains were closely related to previous ones from the US/Europe. Using uPA/SCID mice with human hepatocytes, monoinfection with HBV/G did not result in detectable HBV DNA in serum, whereas superinfection with HBV/G at week 10 inoculated HBV/H when HBV/H DNA was elevated to >10(7) copies/mL has enhanced the replication of HBV/G. The HBV/G was enhanced in another 3 inoculated with a serum passage containing HBV/G with a trace of HBV/H. Coinfection of mice with HBV/G and H induced fibrosis in the liver. In conclusion, the replication of HBV/G can be enhanced remarkably when it is coinfected with HBV/H. Coinfection with HBV/G may be directly cytopathic in immunosuppressive conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Transplantation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chimera
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Hepatitis B / pathology
  • Hepatitis B / virology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / classification
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology*
  • Hepatocytes / transplantation
  • Hepatocytes / virology
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Male
  • Mexico
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Virus Replication*