J Korean Med Sci.  2014 Apr;29(4):564-569. 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.4.564.

Phylogenetic Analyses of HBV Pre-S/S Genes in Mother-Child Pairs with Long-Term Infection by Presumed Vertical Transmission

• Kim HS
• Choi BY
• Choi HS
• Shin WG
• Kim KH
• Lee JH
• Kim HY
• Jang MK
• Kim DJ
• Lee MS
• Park CK

• KMID: 1774463
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.4.564

Abstract

Vertical transmission from mother to child, the main route of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the East Asia, is considered one of the most important predictors for the response to antiviral therapies as well as its complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, it is critical in both etiologic and prognostic aspects to confirm whether or not chronic HBV infection is acquired vertically. This study investigated whether mother-to-child infection could be proved by the phylogenetic analyses of HBV pre-S/S genes ever since several decades have elapsed in mother-child pairs with presumed vertical transmission. The pre-S and S regions of HBVs were compared and analyzed phylogenetically in a total of 36 adults (18 mother-child pairs) with chronic HBV infection. All of the isolates of HBV were genotype C and serotype adr. The divergence between mothers and offsprings was 0 to 1.5%. Phylogenetic trees revealed that 17 of 18 pairs (94%) with presumed vertical transmission were grouped into the same cluster. Vertical transmission from mother to child could be strongly suggested even in adults with a history of several decades of HBV infection using the phylogenetic analyses of pre-S and S genes.

Keyword

Hepatitis B Virus; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Mutation; Infectious Disease Transmission; Vertical

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
DNA, Viral/analysis
Female
Genotype
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/classification/*genetics
Hepatitis B virus/classification/*genetics/metabolism
Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis/*virology
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
Male
Middle Aged
Mothers
Phylogeny
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Serotyping
Young Adult
DNA, Viral
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Phylogenetic tree analysis of preS/S gene sequence from 36 HBV isolates in this study, along with 32 Genbank reference sequences of different genotypes. All HBV isolates in this study are branched as HBV genotype C. Isolates sequenced in the present study are shown with 'M or C' plus family numbers. 'M' and 'C' mean mother and child, respectively.

• 

  Fig. 2 Phylogenetic tree analysis of preS/S gene sequence shows that 17 of 18 mother and children pairs are grouped into the same cluster. Bootstrap values of < 50% are not shown. Isolates sequenced in the present study are shown with 'M or C' plus family numbers. 'M' and 'C' mean mother and child, respectively.

• 

  Fig. 3 Phylogenetic tree analysis of preS gene sequence shows same result of preS/S gene analysis. Bootstrap values of < 50% are not shown. Isolates sequenced in the present study are shown with 'M or C' plus family numbers. 'M' and 'C' mean mother and child, respectively.

• 

  Fig. 4 Phylogenetic tree analysis of S gene sequence shows a similar result of preS region analysis. Bootstrap values of < 50% are not shown. Isolates sequenced in the present study are shown with 'M or C' plus family numbers. 'M' and 'C' mean mother and child, respectively.

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