Genotype-Specific Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus DNA on the LightCycler

Abstract

There are more than 300 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) worldwide. Chronicity may result in an asymptomatic carrier state, reactive fulminant hepatitis, mild and aggressive chronic hepatitis, and the development of liver cirrhosis or hepatocellurar carcinoma. Virus titers during the course of infection can vary dramatically, often being too low for detection by conventional methods. Serological analysis of viral proteins is not a reliable indicator for the HBV-DNA titers because there may be very few virions or none at all, but very high levels of subviral particles devoid of viral DNA in patients sera. Quantitative and sensitive determination of the viral DNA by PCR can provide indirect evidence for the level of viral replication, the degree of infectivity, and changes of viral DNA titers during the course of infection or in vitro studies of the viral life cycle. Moreover, monitoring of the changes in viral titers during treatment with cytokines and/or nucleoside analogues is of particular importance for evaluation of the response in terms of virus elimination, viral reactivation, or development of drug resistant viruses.