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Background and Objectives: Iranian chronic HBV carrier's population has shown a unique pattern of genotype D distribution all around the country. The aim of this study was to explore more details of evolutionary history of carriers based on structural surface proteins from different provinces. Materials and Methods: Sera obtained from 360 isolates from 12 Different regions of country were used for amplification and sequencing of surface proteins. A detailed mutational analysis was undertaken. Results: The total ratio for Missense/Silent nucleotide substitutions was 0.96. Sistan and Kermanshah showed the lowest rate of evolution between provinces (P = 0.055). On the other hand, Khorasan Razavi and Khoozestan contained the highest ratio (P = 0.055). The rest of regions were laid between these two extremes. Azarbayjan and Guilan showed the highest proportion of immune epitope distribution (91.3% and 96%, respectively). Conversely, Sistan and Tehran harbored the least percentage (66.6% and 68.8%, respectively). Kermanshah province contained only 5.2%, whereas Isfahan had 54.5% of B cell epitope distribution. In terms of T helper epitopes, all provinces showed a somehow homogeneity: 22.58% (Fars) to 46.6% (Khuzestan). On the other hand, distribution of substitutions within the CTL epitopes showed a wide range of variation between 6.6% (Khuzestan) and 63% (Kermanshah). Conclusion: Further to low selection pressure found in Iranian population, the variations between different regions designate random genetic drift within the surface proteins. These finding would have some applications in terms of specific antiviral regimen, design of more efficient vaccine and public health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B vaccination is safe and effective, although breakthrough infection occasionally occurs in those who receive the vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) prophylaxis. Sequence variation in their antigenic regions is one of the most powerful strategies that are used by viruses to escape recognition by B and T cell-mediated immune responses. The aim of this study was to explore the mutational profile of HBV in vertical transmission.Six HBsAg-positive mothers and their children who developed HBV infection despite immunoprophylaxis were enrolled. After extraction of HBV DNA from sera, the full HBV genome or surface gene was amplified by Gunther and hemi-nested PCR, respectively. After sequencing, the mutational analysis on paired samples between mothers and children were carried out and compared.Different mutations were found in four children, at least, one arose in functional and/or immune epitope activities. Of 30 amino acid changes, 11 (36.6%) were located within the known HBV immune epitopes. In three children, mutations occurred within the "a" determinant region, one mutation (B2) was identical to the mother of patient, an indication of vertical transmission. The other two (B4 and B5) were considered as vaccine escape mutations. Three children harbored wild-type HBsAg, similar to their mothers. Regarding transmission in infected children, the immunoprophylaxis had no effect and failure of vaccination was observed in 2 isolates.These findings emphasized the need for an alternative regimen, such as the administration of boosters or a more effective HBV vaccine for high-risk children who are born to HBsAg-positive mothers.  [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the correlation of hepatitis B virus surface Ag (HBsAg) variations with the clinical/serological pictures among chronic HBsAg positive patients. The surface gene (Sgene) was amplified and directly sequenced in twenty-five patients. Eight samples (group I) contained at least one mutation at the amino acid level. Five showed alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels above the normal range of which only one sample was anti-HBe positive. Group II (17 samples) did not contain any mutation, 4 were anti-HBe positive and 9 had increased ALT levels. In both groups, from a total of 18 mutations, 5 (27.5%) and 13 (72.5%) occurred in anti-HBe and HBeAg positive groups respectively. The small number of amino acid mutations might belong to either the initial phase of chronicity in our patients; or that even in anti- HBe positive phase in Iranian genotype D-infected patients, a somehow tolerant pattern due to the host genetic factors may be responsible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmunity and viral infections are closely associated fields, and viruses have been proposed as a likely aetiological, contributory or triggering factors of systemic autoimmune diseases. Hepatitis C virus seems to be the virus usually associated with the appearance of autoimmune diseases, and the relationship between chronic hepatitis C virus infection and some autoimmune disease has been studied. For some of these disorders their association with hepatitis C virus infection is well recognized while for others it remains probable or weak. Examples of autoimmune phenomena observed in chronic hepatitis C virus infection include rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, cryoglobulinaemia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus and sjogren syndrome. To date, the etiological role and the pathogenetic involvement of the hepatitis C infection remains unknown.The aim of this study is to assess the presence of different autoimmune manifestations of hepatitis C virus infection reported in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor discussing biopsy versus non-invasive tests for defining the status of liver disease.