High serum levels of pregenomic RNA reflect frequently failing reverse transcription in hepatitis B virus particles

Virology Journal
Kasthuri PrakashMagnus Lindh

Abstract

Hepatocytes infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) produce different HBV RNA species, including pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), which is reverse transcribed during replication. Particles containing HBV RNA are present in serum of infected individuals, and quantification of this HBV RNA could be clinically useful. In a retrospective study of 95 patients with chronic HBV infection, we characterised HBV RNA in serum in terms of concentration, particle association and sequence. HBV RNA was detected by real-time PCR at levels almost as high as HBV DNA. The HBV RNA was protected from RNase and it was found in particles of similar density as particles containing HBV DNA after fractionation on a Nycodenz gradient. Sequencing the epsilon region of the RNA did not reveal mutations that would preclude its binding to the viral polymerase before encapsidation. Specific quantification of precore RNA and pgRNA by digital PCR showed almost seven times lower ratio of precore RNA/pgRNA in serum than in liver tissue, which corresponds to poorer encapsidation of this RNA as compared with pgRNA. The serum ratio between HBV DNA and HBV RNA was higher in genotype D as compared with other genotypes. The results suggest that HBV RNA in serum is present in viral p...Continue Reading

References

Sep 1, 1996·Nucleic Acids Research·A H Kidd, K Kidd-Ljunggren
Nov 16, 2001·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·R BreitkreutzC H Schröder
Jan 5, 2006·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Chien-Jen ChenUNKNOWN REVEAL-HBV Study Group
Sep 22, 2006·Journal of Gastroenterology·Akinori RokuharaKendo Kiyosawa
Jan 9, 2007·World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG·Juergen Beck, Michael Nassal
Jun 1, 2010·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·Alexander J V ThompsonStephen A Locarnini
Oct 15, 2013·Liver International : Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver·Simon B LarssonMagnus Lindh
Aug 19, 2014·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·Florian van BömmelAnke Edelmann
Aug 31, 2016·Journal of Hepatology·Markus CornbergHenry Lik-Yuen Chan
Apr 22, 2017·Journal of Hepatology·UNKNOWN European Association for the Study of the Liver. Electronic address: easloffice@easloffice.eu, UNKNOWN European Association for the Study of the Liver

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 27, 2018·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·Shi LiuHaitao Guo
May 11, 2019·Reviews in Medical Virology·Yongbin WuBao Zhang
Jul 21, 2020·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Mark AndersonGavin Cloherty
Nov 9, 2019·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·Ivana CareyKosh Agarwal
Jul 10, 2019·Antiviral Research·Caroline CharreCaroline Scholtès
Jun 17, 2021·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·Marc G GhanyRichard K Sterling

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR
nucleic acid extraction
RNA

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.