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Phinius BB, Choga WT, Anderson M, Mokomane M, Gobe I, Ratsoma T, Phakedi B, Mpebe G, Bhebhe L, Gaolathe T, Mosepele M, Makhema J, Shapiro R, Lockman S, Musonda R, Moyo S, Gaseitsiwe S. Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus in People Living with HIV in Rural and Peri-Urban Communities in Botswana. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1561. [PMID: 39062134 PMCID: PMC11275055 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequencing data are important for monitoring HBV evolution. We aimed to molecularly characterize HBV sequences from participants with HBV surface antigen-positive (HBsAg+) serology and occult hepatitis B infection (OBI+). (2) Methods: We utilized archived plasma samples from people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) in Botswana. HBV DNA was sequenced, genotyped and analyzed for mutations. We compared mutations from study sequences to those from previously generated HBV sequences in Botswana. The impact of OBI-associated mutations on protein function was assessed using the Protein Variation Effect Analyzer. (3) Results: Sequencing success was higher in HBsAg+ than in OBI+ samples [86/128 (67.2%) vs. 21/71 (29.2%)]. Overall, 93.5% (100/107) of sequences were genotype A1, 2.8% (3/107) were D3 and 3.7% (4/107) were E. We identified 13 escape mutations in 18/90 (20%) sequences with HBsAg coverage, with K122R having the highest frequency. The mutational profile of current sequences differed from previous Botswana HBV sequences, suggesting possible mutational changes over time. Mutations deemed to have an impact on protein function were tpQ6H, surfaceV194A and preCW28L. (4) Conclusions: We characterized HBV sequences from PLWH in Botswana. Escape mutations were prevalent and were not associated with OBI. Longitudinal HBV studies are needed to investigate HBV natural evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonolo B. Phinius
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone Private Bag UB0022, Botswana; (M.M.); (I.G.)
| | - Wonderful T. Choga
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone Private Bag UB0022, Botswana; (M.M.); (I.G.)
| | - Motswedi Anderson
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Private Bag X7, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Margaret Mokomane
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone Private Bag UB0022, Botswana; (M.M.); (I.G.)
| | - Irene Gobe
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone Private Bag UB0022, Botswana; (M.M.); (I.G.)
| | - Tsholofelo Ratsoma
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Basetsana Phakedi
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Gorata Mpebe
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Lynnette Bhebhe
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Tendani Gaolathe
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone Private Bag UB0022, Botswana
| | - Mosepele Mosepele
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone Private Bag UB0022, Botswana
| | - Joseph Makhema
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Roger Shapiro
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shahin Lockman
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rosemary Musonda
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sikhulile Moyo
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone Private Bag UB0022, Botswana; (M.M.); (I.G.)
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Cape Town 7602, South Africa
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Simani Gaseitsiwe
- Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone Private Bag BO320, Botswana; (B.B.P.); (S.M.)
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Bujandric N, Grujic J, Milanovic MK. An interesting case of isolated false-negative hepatitis B surface antigen in a blood donor. Vox Sang 2023. [PMID: 38157225 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES An important requirement for a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening assay is reliable detection of HBsAg mutant forms, especially in blood donation. Here we investigate and describe the case of an isolated false-negative result of commercial serology HBsAg screening assay of a blood donor. MATERIALS AND METHODS The current donation was routinely tested for HBsAg and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the mini-pool mode nucleic acid testing (MP-NAT of six samples), and further evaluated by individual donation ID-NAT. Finally, it was quantified and sequenced. All previous donations were found to have negative HBsAg and HBV DNA, as also the subsequent sample taken 3 months after the marked donation. RESULTS The current donation of the 53-year-old unvaccinated female with 14 previous donations was initially HBsAg negative and HBV DNA (MP-NAT) positive. Further testing showed HBsAg positive using other HBV serological assays, antibodies to HBV core antigen immunoglobulin M positive and HBV DNA ID-NAT positive, and contained 200 IU/mL of HBV DNA. The implicated donation carried genotype D strains, subtype ayw2 (F83S, V96A, V190A, L193S, I195T, L213S, F220L). The mutations in three positions, namely amino acids T118A, P120T, and P127T, were proven subsequently. CONCLUSION This unique mutation combination near the target epitope of one of the immunoassay monoclonals is a possible cause of the reduced analytical sensitivity of the serology assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevenka Bujandric
- Department of Transfusiology, Faculty of Medicine University in Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Blood Transfusion Institute of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jasmina Grujic
- Department of Transfusiology, Faculty of Medicine University in Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Blood Transfusion Institute of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Krga Milanovic
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Blood Transfusion Institute of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
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