The HBV polymerase (Pol) gene overlaps the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in a frame-shifted manner with the result that drug-resistant mutations in the HBV Pol can directly impact on the nature of HBsAg and its function.
To prime multispecific T cell responses, we constructed DNA vaccines that coexpress chimeric, multidomain Ags (with CD8 T cell-defined epitopes of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface (S), core (C), and polymerase (Pol) proteins and/or the OVA Ag as stress protein-capturing fusion proteins.
This correlated with reduced levels of secreted hepatitis B e antigen and increased intracellular levels of core and Pol proteins and replicative HBV DNA intermediates.
The Abbott HBV RUO Sequencing assay (Abbott Molecular Inc., Des Plaines, IL), which combines automated sample processing, real-time PCR, and bidirectional DNA sequencing, was evaluated for detection of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) resistance-associated mutations located in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase (Pol) gene.