High prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus genotype H infection among children with clinical hepatitis in west Mexico

Studies on the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) among childrenare scarce in Latin American countries, especially in Mexico. This study was aimed toinvestigate the prevalence of HBV infection, occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) andHBV genotypes among children with clinical hepatitis. In total, 215 children withclinical hepatitis were evaluated for HBV infection. HBV serological markers and HBVDNA were analysed. OBI diagnosis and HBV genotyping was performed. HBV infection wasfound in 11.2% of children with clinical hepatitis. Among these HBV DNApositive-infected children, OBI was identified in 87.5% (n = 21/24) of the cases and12.5% (n = 3/24) were positive for both HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen. OBIwas more frequent among children who had not been vaccinated against hepatitis B (p< 0.05) than in those who had been vaccinated. HBV genotype H was prevalent in 71%of the children followed by genotype G (8%) and genotype A (4%). In conclusion, OBIis common among Mexican children with clinical hepatitis and is associated with HBVgenotype H. The results show the importance of the molecular diagnosis of HBVinfection in Mexican paediatric patients with clinical hepatitis and emphasise thenecessity of reinforcing hepatitis B vaccination in children.     

An in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction: standardisation and comparison with the Cobas Amplicor HBV monitor and Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV tests for the quantification of hepatitis B virus DNA

This study aimed to standardise an in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction(rtPCR) to allow quantification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum or plasmasamples, and to compare this method with two commercial assays, the Cobas AmplicorHBV monitor and the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test. Samples from 397 patientsfrom the state of São Paulo were analysed by all three methods. Fifty-two sampleswere from patients who were human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C viruspositive, but HBV negative. Genotypes were characterised, and the viral load wasmeasure in each sample. The in-house rtPCR showed an excellent success rate comparedwith commercial tests; inter-assay and intra-assay coefficients correlated withcommercial tests (r = 0.96 and r = 0.913, p < 0.001) and the in-house test showedno genotype-dependent differences in detection and quantification rates. The in-houseassay tested in this study could be used for screening and quantifying HBV DNA inorder to monitor patients during therapy.     

Whole-genome sequences of influenza A(H3N2) viruses isolated from Brazilian patients with mild illness during the 2014 season

The influenza A(H3N2) virus has circulated worldwide for almost five decades and isthe dominant subtype in most seasonal influenza epidemics, as occurred in the 2014season in South America. In this study we evaluate five whole genome sequences ofinfluenza A(H3N2) viruses detected in patients with mild illness collected fromJanuary-March 2014. To sequence the genomes, a new generation sequencing (NGS)protocol was performed using the Ion Torrent PGM platform. In addition to analysingthe common genes, haemagglutinin, neuraminidase and matrix, our work also comprisedinternal genes. This was the first report of a whole genome analysis with Brazilianinfluenza A(H3N2) samples. Considerable amino acid variability was encountered in allgene segments, demonstrating the importance of studying the internal genes. NGS ofwhole genomes in this study will facilitate deeper virus characterisation,contributing to the improvement of influenza strain surveillance in Brazil.     

减毒HAV在体外抑制HBV表达HBeAg和HBsAg的实验研究

目的　探索减毒甲型肝炎病毒( HAV) ( H2减毒株)在Hep G2 .2 .15细胞中对乙型肝炎病毒( HBV)表达HBs Ag和HBe Ag的影响。方法　在Hep G2 .2 .15细胞中,加入含3×10 - 2 ( 3×10 4 .5CCID50 / ml) ,3×10 - 3( 3×10 3.5CCID50 / ml)浓度的减毒HAV。按不同疫苗浓度,每4 d换液1次,留取第12和第16天的培养上清液;同时设立对照组。用微粒子酶免分析法检测培养上清液中的HBs Ag和HBe Ag含量。计算减毒HAV在不同浓度,以及不同作用时间长度的条件下,对Hep G2 .2 .15细胞表达HBs Ag和HBe Ag的影响。结果　3×10 - 2 Ampoule/ ml的减毒HAV作用Hep G2 .2 .5细胞12 d后,培养上清液的HBe Ag浓度为( 4 7.2 3±6 .18) S/ CO,低于对照组的( 10 1.15±15 .77) S/ CO,2组比较差异有非常显著性( P<0 .0 1) ;16 d后,上清液HBe Ag含量为( 4 0 .2 7±13.30 ) S/ CO,也显著低于对照组的( 6 5 .85±3.4 6 ) S/ CO( P<0 .0 5 ) ;HBs Ag含量为( 2 .6 8±0 .31) S/ N,低于对照组的( 5 .10±1.2 7)S/ N,差异有显著性( P<0 .0 5 )。而3×10 - 3Ampoule/ ml的减毒HAV作用Hep G2 .2 .15细胞12 d后,培养上清液的HBs Ag浓度与对照组比较有显著性下降( P<0 .0 5 )。结论　一定浓度的减毒HAV可能有直接抑制HBV表达HBs Ag,HBe Ag的作用     

The Duffy binding protein as a key target for a Plasmodium vivax vaccine: lessons from the Brazilian Amazon

Plasmodium vivax infects human erythrocytes through a major pathwaythat requires interaction between an apical parasite protein, the Duffy bindingprotein (PvDBP) and its receptor on reticulocytes, the Duffy antigen/receptor forchemokines (DARC). The importance of the interaction between PvDBP (region II, DBPII)and DARC to P. vivax infection has motivated our malaria researchgroup at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil) to conduct a numberof immunoepidemiological studies to characterise the naturally acquired immunity toPvDBP in populations living in the Amazon rainforest. In this review, we provide anupdate on the immunology and molecular epidemiology of PvDBP in the BrazilianAmazon - an area of markedly unstable malaria transmission - andcompare it with data from other parts of Latin America, as well as Asia andOceania.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus DNA of subtype adr and its conserved gene organization

The complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA from Dane particles of subtype adr was determined. The 3215-bp sequence showed the presence of genes for the surface antigen (226 amino acids) and core antigen (183 amino acids), in addition to two (long and small) open reading frames (ORFs) capable of coding the 843 and 154 amino acids. These ORFs differed from those of the other adr clones so far reported [Ono et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 11 (1983) 1747–1757; Fujiyama et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 11 (1983) 4601–4610]. The gene organization of HBV DNA was found to be well conserved irrespective of subtype. The direct repeat of the undecanucleotide sequence near the 5′ ends of the short (S) and long (L) strands of HBV DNA and the two small direct repeats between both 5′ ends were found to be characteristic structures.     

Evidence of two lineages of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in the Brazilian Amazon, based on mitochondrial DNA ND4 gene sequences

Genetic variation was estimated in ten samples populations of Aedes aegypti from the Brazilian Amazon, by using a 380 bp fragment of the mitochocondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) gene. A total of 123 individuals were analyzed, whereby 13 haplotypes were found. Mean genetic diversity was slightly high (h = 0.666 ± 0.029; π = 0.0115 ± 0.0010). Two AMOVA analyses indicated that most of the variation (~70%-72%) occurred within populations. The variation found among and between populations within the groups disclosed lower, but even so, highly significant values. F(ST) values were not significant in most of the comparisons, except for the samples from Pacaraima and Rio Branco. The isolation by distance (IBD) model was not significant (r = 0.2880; p = 0.097) when the samples from Pacaraima and Rio Branco were excluded from the analyses, this indicating that genetic distance is not related to geographic distance. This result may be explained either by passive dispersal patterns (via human migrations and commercial exchange) or be due to the recent expansion of this mosquito in the Brazilian Amazon. Phylogenetic relationship analysis showed two genetically distinct groups (lineages) within the Brazilian Amazon, each sharing haplotypes with populations from West Africa and Asia.     

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in kidney transplant recipients

In this cross-sectional study, 207 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative kidney transplant recipients were evaluated based on demographic and epidemiological data and on the levels of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus infection and liver enzymes. Patients with HBV or human immunodeficiency virus infection were excluded. Sera were analysed for the presence of HBV-DNA. HBV-DNA was detected in two patients (1%), indicating occult hepatitis B (OHB) infection (the HBV-DNA loads were 3.1 and 3.5 IU/mL in these patients). The results of the liver function tests were normal and no serological markers indicative of HBV infection were detected. The prevalence of OHB infection was low among kidney transplant recipients, most likely due to the low HBsAg endemicity in the general population of the study area.     

The complete nucleotide sequences of the cloned hepatitis B virus DNA; subtype adr and adw

The complete nucleotide sequences of two different subtypes (adr and adw) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA cloned in E. coli were determined. The sequence of the viral genome of the adr clone was 3188 nucleotides long, and that of the adw clone was 3200 nucleotides long. The adr and adw clones differed from the reported cloned ayw HBV DNA (3182 nucleotides long) in 11.2% and 10.0% of nucleotides, respectively. Heterogeneity of the HBV genome in the clones with the same subtype was observed.     

Design of a PROTAC that antagonizes and destroys the cancer-forming X-protein of the hepatitis B virus

The X-protein of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is essential for virus infection and contributes to the development of HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a disease which causes more than one million deaths each year. Here we describe the design of a novel PROTAC (proteolysis targeting chimeric molecule) capable of simultaneously inducing the degradation of the X-protein, and antagonizing its function. The PROTAC was constructed by fusing the N-terminal oligomerization and C-terminal instability domains of the X-protein to each other, and rendering them cell-permeable by the inclusion of a polyarginine cell-penetrating peptide (CPP). It was predicted that the oligomerization domain would bind the X-protein, and that the instability domain would cause the X-protein to be targeted for proteasomal degradation. Addition of the PROTAC to HepG2 liver cancer cells, engineered to express full-length and C-terminally truncated forms of the X-protein, resulted in the degradation of both forms of the X-protein. A cell-permeable stand-alone form of the oligomerization domain was taken up by HepG2 cells, and acted as a dominant-negative inhibitor, causing inhibition of X-protein-induced apoptosis. In summary, the PROTAC described here induces the degradation of the X-protein, and antagonizes its function, and warrants investigation in a preclinical study for its ability to prevent or treat HBV infection and/or the development of HCC.     

Increased frequency of micronuclei in the lymphocytes of patients chronically infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus

In this study, we analysed the frequency of micronuclei (MN), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) and nuclear buds (NBUDs) and evaluated mutagen-induced sensitivity in the lymphocytes of patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). In total, 49 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (28 HBV-infected and 21 HCV-infected patients) and 33 healthy, non-infected blood donor controls were investigated. The frequencies (‰) of MN, NPBs and NBUDs in the controls were 4.41 ± 2.15, 1.15 ± 0.97 and 2.98 ± 1.31, respectively. The frequencies of MN and NPBs were significantly increased (p < 0.0001) in the patient group (7.01 ± 3.23 and 2.76 ± 2.08, respectively) compared with the control group. When considered separately, the HBV-infected patients (7.18 ± 3.57) and HCV-infected patients (3.27 ± 2.40) each had greater numbers of MN than did the controls (p < 0.0001). The HCV-infected patients displayed high numbers of NPBs (2.09 ± 1.33) and NBUDs (4.38 ± 3.28), but only the HBV-infected patients exhibited a significant difference (NPBs = 3.27 ± 2.40, p < 0.0001 and NBUDs = 4.71 ± 2.79, p = 0.03) in comparison with the controls. Similar results were obtained for males, but not for females, when all patients or the HBV-infected group was compared with the controls. The lymphocytes of the infected patients did not exhibit sensitivity to mutagen in comparison with the lymphocytes of the controls (p = 0.06). These results showed that the lymphocytes of patients who were chronically infected with HBV or HCV presented greater chromosomal instability.     

Evaluation and identification of hepatitis B virus entry inhibitors using HepG2 cells overexpressing a membrane transporter NTCP

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) entry has been analyzed using infection-susceptible cells, including primary human hepatocytes, primary tupaia hepatocytes, and HepaRG cells. Recently, the sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) membrane transporter was reported as an HBV entry receptor. In this study, we established a strain of HepG2 cells engineered to overexpress the human NTCP gene (HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cells). HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cells were shown to be susceptible to infection by blood–borne and cell culture-derived HBV. HBV infection was facilitated by pretreating cells with 3% dimethyl sulfoxide permitting nearly 50% of the cells to be infected with HBV. Knockdown analysis suggested that HBV infection of HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cells was mediated by NTCP. HBV infection was blocked by an anti-HBV surface protein neutralizing antibody, by compounds known to inhibit NTCP transporter activity, and by cyclosporin A and its derivatives. The infection assay suggested that cyclosporin B was a more potent inhibitor of HBV entry than was cyclosporin A. Further chemical screening identified oxysterols, oxidized derivatives of cholesterol, as inhibitors of HBV infection. Thus, the HepG2-hNTCP-C4 cell line established in this study is a useful tool for the identification of inhibitors of HBV infection as well as for the analysis of the molecular mechanisms of HBV infection.     

Id-1 induces proteasome-dependent degradation of the HBX protein

Id-1 is a member of the HLH protein family that regulates a wide range of cellular processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, senescence and overexpression of Id-1 was recently suggested to play roles in the development and progression of different cancers. Previously, Id-1 was shown to physically interact with the viral protein E1A. Meanwhile, Id-1 expression was found to be regulated by several of the virus-encoded proteins, suggesting that Id-1 may be a common cellular target of the viral proteins. Here, we report that Id-1 interacts with the Hepatitis-B virus (HBV)-encoded protein HBX and regulates its stability in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. We found that in HCC cells, ectopic Id-1 expression significantly decreased the half-life of the HBX protein, indicating that HBX is destabilized by Id-1. Meanwhile, the Id-1-induced HBX degradation was found to be inhibited by treatment with proteasome inhibitor, suggesting that this process is mediated through the proteasome pathway. Interestingly, while Id-1 did not induce HBX-ubiquitination, we found that removal of all the lysine residues of the HBX protein protects it from the effect of Id-1, indicating that ubiquitination is still required for the Id-1-mediated HBX degradation. Meanwhile, we found that Id-1 binds to the proteasome subunit C8 and facilitates its interaction with the HBX protein and disruption of this interaction completely abolishes the negative effect of Id-1 on HBX protein stability. Taken together, our results demonstrated a novel function of Id-1 in regulating HBX protein stability through interaction with the proteasome.     

A mathematical model of the intracellular replication and within host evolution of hepatitis type B virus: Understanding the long time course of chronic hepatitis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute and chronic liver disease. Especially, chronic hepatitis is a major risk factor of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Viral kinetics of HBV observed in peripheral blood is quite different depending on the clinical course of hepatitis. But the relationship between the intracellular replication dynamics and clinical course of HBV infection is unclear. Further it is very difficult to predict the long time course of hepatitis because the nature of HBV is changed by mutation within host with high mutation rate. We investigate the intracellular replication dynamics and within host evolution of HBV by using a mathematical model. Two different intracellular replication patterns of HBV, “explosive” and “arrested”, are switched depending on the viral gene expression pattern. In the explosive replication, prominent growth of HBV is observed. On the other hand, the virion production is restricted in the arrested replication. It is suggested that the arrested and explosive replication is associated with chronic hepatitis and exacerbation of hepatitis respectively. It is shown by our evolutionary simulation that the exacerbation of hepatitis is caused by the emergence of explosive genotype of HBV from arrested genotype by mutation during chronic hepatitis. It is also shown that chronic infection without exacerbation is maintained by short waiting time for virion release and superinfection with arrested genotype. It is suggested that extension of waiting time for virion release and existence of uninfected hepatocyte in the liver may become risk factors for the exacerbation of hepatitis.     

Morphology of the larvae,male genitalia and DNA sequences of Anopheles (Kerteszia) pholidotus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Colombia

Since 1984, Anopheles (Kerteszia) lepidotus has been considered amosquito species that is involved in the transmission of malaria in Colombia, afterhaving been incriminated as such with epidemiological evidence from a malariaoutbreak in Cunday-Villarrica, Tolima. Subsequent morphological analyses of femalescaptured in the same place and at the time of the outbreak showed that the speciesresponsible for the transmission was not An. lepidotus, but ratherAnopheles pholidotus. However, the associated morphologicalstages and DNA sequences of An. pholidotus from the foci ofCunday-Villarrica had not been analysed. Using samples that were caught recently fromthe outbreak region, the purpose of this study was to provide updated and additionalinformation by analysing the morphology of female mosquitoes, the genitalia of malemosquitoes and fourth instar larvae of An. pholidotus, which wasconfirmed with DNA sequences of cytochrome oxidase I and rDNA internal transcribedspacer. A total of 1,596 adult females were collected in addition to 37 larvalcollections in bromeliads. Furthermore, 141 adult females, which were captured fromthe same area in the years 1981-1982, were analysed morphologically. Ninety-five DNAsequences were analysed for this study. Morphological and molecular analyses showedthat the species present in this region corresponds to An.pholidotus. Given the absence of An. lepidotus, even inrecent years, we consider that the species of mosquitoes that was previouslyincriminated as the malaria vector during the outbreak was indeed An.pholidotus, thus ending the controversy.     

Influence of age on the haemoglobin concentration of malaria-infected patients in a reference centre in the Brazilian Amazon

Anaemia is amongst the major complications of malaria, a major public health problem in the Amazon Region in Latin America. We examined the haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations of malaria-infected patients and compared it to that of malaria-negative febrile patients and afebrile controls. The haematological parameters of febrile patients who had a thick-blood-smear performed at an infectious diseases reference centre of the Brazilian Amazon between December 2009-January 2012 were retrieved together with clinical data. An afebrile community control group was composed from a survey performed in a malaria-endemic area. Hb concentrations and anaemia prevalence were analysed according to clinical-epidemiological status and demographic characteristics. In total, 7,831 observations were included. Patients with Plasmodium falciparum infection had lower mean Hb concentrations (10.5 g/dL) followed by P. vivax-infected individuals (12.4 g/dL), community controls (12.8 g/dL) and malaria-negative febrile patients (13.1 g/dL) (p < 0.001). Age, gender and clinical-epidemiological status were strong independent predictors for both outcomes. Amongst malaria-infected individuals, women in the reproductive age had considerably lower Hb concentrations. In this moderate transmission intensity setting, both vivax and falciparum malaria are associated with reduced Hb concentrations and risk of anaemia throughout a wide age range.     

A new survey of the serology of human Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the Rio Negro microregion,Brazilian Amazon: a critical analysis

The serology of human Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the Rio Negro microregion is very complex because of the large numbers of false-positive cases that result from low antibody titres and cross-reactions with other infections. In the present study, we collected 4,880 blood samples on filter paper; of these, indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) was strongly reactive in 221 (4.5%), which were considered to be positive (IIF strongly reactive; high intensity of fluorescence) and weakly reactive in 302 (6.2%), which were considered to be doubtful (IIF weakly reactive; low intensity of fluorescence). The confirmatory test on the serum using at least two of three techniques (IIF, conventional ELISA and recombinant ELISA) on 137 samples that were positive in the screening test only confirmed 33 cases (24.1%). Of the 178 samples that were considered doubtful in the screening test, only 10 (5.6%) were considered to be positive in the confirmatory test. Finally, we recommend that the serological diagnosis of T. cruzi infection in the Amazon region be made using at least two different techniques, for example immunofluorescence and ELISA and confirmed by Western blot analysis when possible.     

The 3' and 5'-terminal sequences of influenza A,B and C virus RNA segments are highly conserved and show partial inverted complementarity

The 3'- and 5'-terminal nucleotides of the genome segments of an influenza A, B, and C virus were identified by directly sequencing viral RNA using two different sequencing techniques. A high degree of conservation at the 3' ends as well as at the 5' ends was observed among the genome segments of each virus and among the segments of the three different virus types. A uridine-rich region was observed from positions 17 through 22 at the 5' end of each segment. Moreover, the conserved 3' and 5'-terminal sequences showed partial and inverted complementarity. This feature results in very similar sequences at the 3' ends of the plus and minus strand RNAs and may also enable single-strand RNAs of influenza virus to form “panhandle” structures. Inverted complementary repeats may play an important role in initiation of viral RNA replication.