HEPATITIS B VIRUS MUTATIONS

摘要

The present invention relates to hepatitis B virus (HBV) disease and in particular provides polynucleotide sequences which are characteristic of certain disease states. Said HBV polynucleotides are for use in evaluation of a HBV disease state which comprises at least two of the following: (i) a mutation in the Enhancer I region; (ii) a mutation in the Negative Regulatory Element region; (iii) a mutation in the Enhancer II/Core Upstream Regulatory Sequence/Basal Core Promoter region; and (iv) a mutation which leads to an X peptide amino acid change to provide a cysteine or methionine residue; the mutation being a variation from the normal nucleotide at that position in a respective one of HBV genotypes A to F. The invention also provides tests for detecting the polynucleotides. A test involving protein binding interactions with the polynucleotides is also provided.