Complete Genome Sequence and Phylogenetic Relatedness of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Isolates from Iran

Hepatits B virus (HBV) in one of the main etiological agents of acute and chronic liver disease that is still a major public health problem in the world. Numerous HBV isolates have grouprf into eight genotypes, A to H, based on the complete genome sequence. To date, no study has been carried out on the complete HBV genome sequence in Iran. The objective of this study was to investigate the complete genome sequence organization and phylogenetic analusis of the five HBV strains which obtained from Itanian chonic infected patients. Results showed that Iranian strains were closely related to each other, with 97-100% nucleotide similarity. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete genome sequence and precore / core gene sequence revealed that all strains were of genotype D, sub-genotype D1 with bootstrap value 100% and 99%, respectively. The S gene encoded Arg122, Pro127, and Lys160 corresponding to subtype ayw2. Iranian HBV isolates had closely related with Turkish HBV strains. All strains had a nucleotide length of 3182 bp except IR-P4 strain, with a 3185 bp in length and with a unique Phe89 insertion in the X gene. The intragenotypic divergence of the complete genome sequence of Iranian strains was 1.8% and the intergenotypic in genotype D, was 3.8% and with the other genotypes was 7.9-15.4%. In conclusion, this study revealed that the HBV genotype D, sub-genotype D1, subtype ayw2 dominates in the Iranian infected patients. A single Phe89 insertion in the X gene of the on Iranian strain with an unforeseen length of 3185 bp was identified.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hepatitis B virus ، complete genome sequence ، phylogenetic analysis ، Iranian HBV infected patients ، Iran