Abdolvahab Moradi - Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Sareh Zhand - Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Amir Ghaemi - Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Naeme Javid - Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Masoud Bazouri - Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Alijan Tabarraei - Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

Objective(s): It has been reported that the mutation of the pre-core (PC) and basal-core promoter (BCP) may play an important role in the development of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study the PC and BCP mutations were investigated in chronic HBV patients. Materials and Methods:In this study, ۱۲۰ chronic HBV patients from Golestan, Northeast of Iran who were not vaccinated against HBV, were recruited from the year ۲۰۰۸ to ۲۰۱۲. HBV-DNA extraction from plasma and PCR were performed and positive PCR products were subjected to automated sequencing. Results:One hundred out of ۱۲۰ (۸۳.۳%) patients were HBeAg negative. Comparison of our nucleotide sequences with reference sequence showed high rate mutation in BCP and PC region (۹۶.۶۶%). Frame shift mutation was found in ۷۸ (۶۵%) of patients in BCP region, among them ۸ (۶.۶%) patients showed mutation in PC region. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated high rate of mutations in BCP and PC regions among HBV chronic patients in Northeast of Iran.

BCP mutation, Hepatitis B, Iran, PC mutation