• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.823-828
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• 2000

The complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus DNA isolated from Korean patient serum was determined and characterized, and its phylogenetic relation was then investigated. The viral genome was 3,215 base pairs long and included four well known open reading frames (i.e. surface antigens, core antigens, X protein and DNA polymerase). The sequence of the surface antigen showed that the HBV genome under investigation, designated HBV 315, was characteristic of subtype adr. A phylogenetic analysis using the total genome sequence revealed that HBV315 was grouped into genomic group C together with isolates from Japan, China, Thailand, Polynesia, and New Caledonia. The mean percent similarity between HBV315 and other HBV isolates in genomic group C was 97.25%, and that with other genomic groups ranged from 86.16% to 91.25%. The predicted amino acid sequences of HBV315 were compared with two closely related subtype adr isolates, M38636 and D12980. The results showed that the X gene product was identical in the three strains, while there were significant amino acid sequence differences between HBV315 and M38636 in the Pre-S1 and Pre-S2 regions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 1998

Abstract -Phyllanthus ussuriensis which belongs to Euphorbiaceae has been used as a component of Korean traditional remedy against hepatitis and jaundice. Aqueous methanolic extract of P. ussuriensis was tested for antiviral activity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in HepG2 2.2.15 cells which were derived through transfection of cloned HBV DNA into HepG2 human hrpatoblastoma cells. P. ussuriensis extract decreased the levels of extracellular HBV virion DNA and inhibited HBV replication at concentrations ranging from 50 to 500$\mu$g/ml. Partitioning of water suspension of the extract revealed that the activity mainly resides in the EtOAc fraction. Consecutive purification of the EtOAc fraction by silica-gel column chromatography resulted in the two active anti-HBV fractions. Southern blot analysis shows that the action mechanisms or active site of the two fractions seems to be different in terms of their inhibition of HBV replication steps.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.166-178
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• 1985

In order to express hepatitis B surface antigen $(HB_sAg)$ containing pre-surface antigen region in mammalian calls, 2.7 kb DNA fragment containing pre-surface region-$HB_sAg$ gene poly(A) addition site of HBV genome was cloned into simian virus 40(SV 40) based chimeric vector pSVOB. 2.7 kb DNA fragment was derived from pHBVD 107 containing tandem copies of the HBV genome in a head-to-tail arrangement by Bgl II digestion. Construction of the vector pSVOE involved the incorporation of SV40 sequences spanning the viral origin of replication and 72 bp repeats (enhancer) into a pBR 322 derivative lacking sequences which inhibit replication in mammalian cells. Bam HI linker was inserted at the Pvu II site in the proximity of SV40 late promoter of pSVOE and named as pSVOB. To construct the recombinant plasmid pSVBS, pHBVD 107 was digested with Bgl II to isolate 2.7kb DNA fragment and the fragment was ligated into the Bam HI site of pSVOB by ligation. Preliminary result showed that the recombinant plasmid pSVBS produced $HB_sAg$ in the monkey cell producing large T antigen (COS cell).

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2001

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase, which possesses the activities of terminal binding, DNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase and RNaseH, has been shown to accomplish viral DNA replication through a pregenomic intermediate. Because the HBV polymerase has not been purified, the expression of HBV polymerase was examined in an E. coli expression system that is under the regulation of arabinose operon. The expressed individual domain containing terminal binding protein, polymerase, or RNaseH turned out to be insoluble. The activities of those domains were not able to be recovered by denaturation and renaturation using urea or guanidine-HCI. The expressed reverse transcriptase containing the polymerase and RNaseH domains became extensively degraded, whereas the proteolysis was reduced in a Ion- mutant. These results indicate that Lon protease proteolyzes the HBV reverse transcriptase expressed in E. coli.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.458-463
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• 1999

This study was undertaken to test for antiviral activity of the aqueous extracts prepared from 4 medicinal plants of Korea (Terminalia chebula, Sanguisorba officinalia, Rubus coreanus, Rheum palmatum). Aqueous extracts were assayed for the inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by measurement of HBV DNA and surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in the extracellular medium of HepG2 2.2.15 cells. All extracts decreased the levels of extracellular HBV virion DNA at concentrations ranging from 64 to $128{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ and inhibited the production of HBsAg dose-dependently. Among the 4 tested plants, Terminalia chebula exhibits the most prominent anti-HBV activities. Our findings suggest that these 4 medicinal plants may have potential to develop as specific anti-HBV drugs in the future.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2000

The hepadnaviruses replicate their nucleic acid through a reverse transcription step. The MBP-fused HBV polymerase was expressed in E. coli and purified by using amylase affinity column chromatography. The purified protein represented DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity. In this report, the MBP-HBV polymerase was shown to lack 3'$\rightarrow$5' exonuclease activity, like other retroviral RTs. The ratio of the insertion efficiency for the wrong versus right vase pairs indicates the misinsertion frequency (f). The nucleotide insertion fidelity (1/f), observed with the MBP-HBV polymerase and HIV-1 RT, was between 60 and 54,000, and between 50 and 73,000, respectively, showing that they are in close range. A relatively efficient nucleotide incorporation by the MBP-HBV polymerase was observed with a specificity of three groups: (1) A : T, T : A>C : G, G : C (matched pairs), (2) A : C, C : A>G: T, T : G (purine-pyrimidine and pyrimidine-purine mispairs), and (3) C : C, A : A, G : G, T : T>T : C, C : T>A : G, G : A (purine-purine or pyrimidine-pyrimidine mispairs), and their order is (1)>(2)>(3). The data from the nucleotide insertion fidelity by the MBP-HBV polymerase suggest that the HBV polymerase may be as error-prone as HIV-1 RT.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.546-551
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• 2004

The increasing pace of development in molecular biology during the last decade has had a direct effect on mass testing and diagnostic applications, including blood screening. We report the model Microarray that has been developed for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis D virus (HDV) detection. The specific primer pairs of PCR were designed using the Primer Premier 5.00 program according to the conserved regions of HBV and HDV. PCR fragments were purified and cloned into pMD18-T vectors. The recombinant plasmids were extracted from positive clones and the target gene fragments were sequenced. The DNA microarray was prepared by robotically spotting PCR products onto the surface of glass slides. Sequences were aligned, and the results obtained showed that the products of PCR amplification were the required specific gene fragments of HBV, and HDV. Samples were labeled by Restriction Display PCR (RD-PCR). Gene chip hybridizing signals showed that the specificity and sensitivity required for HBV and HDV detection were satisfied. Using PCR amplified products to construct gene chips for the simultaneous clinical diagnosis of HBV and HDV resulted in a quick, simple, and effective method. We conclude that the DNA microarray assay system might be useful as a diagnostic technique in the clinical laboratory. Further applications of RD-PCR for the sample labeling could speed up microarray multi-virus detection.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.140-151
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• 2003

Purpose: We tried to evaluate the long term efficacy and positive predictive factors of interferon-alpha treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: The study population included 113 children who received interferon therapy between May 1982 and July 2002 (20 years) for chronic hepatitis B in Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Male to female ratio was 2.3 : 1 and the mean age at diagnosis was $11.1{\pm}4.1$ years old. Response to treatment was defined as normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), disappearance of HBeAg and HBV-DNA Eighty two children responded while 32 did not. Interferon-alpha was given intramuscularly for 6 months at a dosage of $3{\times}10^6$ unit, 3 times weekly. In relapsed cases, lamivudine or interferon retreatment was done. Results: Seroconversion rate was 77.0% in terms of HBeAg, 74.3% in terms of HBV-DNA, and 80.5% in terms of ALT normalization after treatment. Seroconversion rate of both HBeAg and HBV-DNA was 72.6%. Analyzed by life table method, the effect of the treatment had been maintained over 10 years after cessation of therapy. Pre-treatment ALT level was the only significant positive predictive factor of response. Eleven cases (13.4%) relapsed, and 2 out of 3 showed response when treated with lamivudine and 1 out of 3 with interferon retreatment. Conclusion: Interferon-alpha showed significant efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in our study. Further studies about the effect of interferon therapy on complications of hepatitis such as hepatocarcinoma, cirrhosis are warranted.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.743-747
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• 2011

Here we describe a case of lamivudine and entecavir resistant chronic hepatitis B, treated with western medicine plus traditional korean medicine combination therapy. We administered Injinchunggan-Tang(茵蔯淸肝湯), a traditional Korean herb remedy, with entecavir to a 45-year-old chronic hepatitis B patient who didn't have achieved HBV-DNA suppression, in spite of 18 month lamivudine mono therapy and 14 month entecavir mono therapy. HBV-DNA decreased more than one thousandth from 98,100 IU/mL to 53 IU/mL just in 23 days, and resultingly it seems that the combination therapy could be very potent, at least to some chronic hepatitis B patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2006

Treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with lamivudine is effective in suppressing virus replication and results in reduced inflammatory activity. However the most troublesome problem of lamivudine treatment is the emergence of lamivudine-resistant strains with amino acid substitution in the YMDD motif of DNA polymerase gene during the treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the mutation of YMDD motif (codon 552) and codon 528 in chronic HBV patients with lamivudine therapy using PCR-direct sequencing and to investigate the relationship between lamivudine mediated HBV mutation and HBeAg. HBV DNA was extracted from serum samples of HBV patients and amplified by nested PCR with two sets of primer pairs selected in HBV DNA polymerase gene. Amplified PCR product was analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing. HBV mutation was detected in 124 out of 207 samples (60%). Single mutation was 50.8% for M552I, 43.5% for M552V, 5.7% for M552I/V and the L528M mutation was 67.0%. Double mutation was 43.6% for M552V/L528M, 33.1% for M552I/L528(wild type), 17.7% for M552I/L528M and 5.6% for M552I/V/L528M. Serine mutation at YMDD motif (M552S) was not found and the L528M mutation frequently accompanied M552V type. In this study, the typical difference of frequencies for HBV mutation depending on HBeAg was not found. Moreover, the PCR-direct sequencing method used in this study might be a powerful tool for the mutation study in clinical reference laboratories with high volume.