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Hepatitis B virus genotypes: epidemiological and clinical relevance in Asia

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Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is characterized by a high genetic heterogeneity since it replicates via a reverse transcriptase that lacks proofreading ability. Up to now, ten genotypes (A–J) have been described, with genotype A and D being ubiquitous but most prevalent in Europe and Africa, genotype B and C being confined to Asia and Oceania. Infections with other genotypes such as E, F, G and H are also occasionally observed in Asia. Genotype I is rare and can be found in Laos, Vietnam, India and China, whereas genotype J has been described in Japan and Ryukyu. Novel variants generated by recombination and co-infection with other genotypes have gradually gotten worldwide attention and may be correlated with certain clinical features. There are substantial differences in HBV infection regarding prevalence, clinical manifestation, disease progression and response to antiviral therapy. Due to the complex interplay among viral, host and environmental factors, the relationship between HBV genotypes and clinical profiles remains incompletely revealed. In general, genotype A is associated with better response to interferon therapy; genotype C, and to lesser extent B, usually represent a risk factor for perinatal infection and are associated with advanced liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma; genotype D may be linked with poor response to interferon therapy. Future studies with better design and larger sample size are warranted to further clarify the controversial issues and guide the day-to-day clinical practice.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grants from the National Key Technologies R&D Program (no. 2015BAI13B09), National Science and Technology Major Project (no. 2013ZX10002004) and Key Project from Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission (no. D121100003912003).

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  1. Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Cirrhosis, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, No. 95 Yong-an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, People’s Republic of China

    Qiuju Tian & Jidong Jia

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Correspondence to Jidong Jia.

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Qiuju Tian and Jidong Jia declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Tian, Q., Jia, J. Hepatitis B virus genotypes: epidemiological and clinical relevance in Asia. Hepatol Int 10, 854–860 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-016-9745-2

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