Hepatitis B virus preCore/Core region complexity by massive sequencing. Hepatitis B virus

Recent reports support the concept that HBV quasispecies (QA) complexity is a clinically relevant factor in the course and prognosis of this disease and in the response to treatment. The preCore/Core is an optimal region to investigate QA evolution, in relation to host immune system stimulation and regulation of HBV replication. Up to day, the evolution of the preCore/Core regions under NUC treatment has been little investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate HBV quasispecies (QA) complexity in the preCore/Core regions in relation to HBeAg status, and explore QA changes under natural evolution and nucleoside analogue (NUC) treatment. To achieve that goals, preCore/Core regions have been analyzed by ultra-deep pyrosequencing in 30 sequential samples (baseline [diagnosis], treatment-free, and treatment-nonresponse) from 10 retrospectively selected patients.