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Characterization of a breakthrough vaccine escape strain associated with overt hepatitis B virus infection

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Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is composed of the purified hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) that is produced by recombinant DNA technology. The neutralizing antibodies induced by vaccination target mainly the “a” determinant, aa124-147, of the outer viral envelope (HBsAg). In the present work, we demonstrate a case study for vaccinated patient that is infected with a vaccine escape HBV strain (Eg200). Characterization of the isolate Eg200 showed that it belongs to the genotype D and an uncommon sub-genotype in Egypt; D9. The DNA sequence encoding HBsAg was sequenced. Mutational analysis of the HBsAg showed a double mutation in the “a” determinant of this HBV isolate; T125M and P127T. However, such substitutions were found to be conserved to the detected serotype, ayw3, of Eg200 isolate. This case report indicates that continuous characterization of breakthrough vaccine escape strains of HBV is essential to develop the immunization strategies against HBV infection.

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Data availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was performed at Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohammed El-Mowafy & Abdelaziz Elgaml

  2. Department of Endemic Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohamed Elegezy

  3. Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohamed Elegezy

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Mohamed El-Mesery

  5. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University, New Damietta, Egypt

    Abdelaziz Elgaml

Authors
  1. Mohammed El-Mowafy
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  4. Abdelaziz Elgaml
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Contributions

ME-M, AE: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data curation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Supervision, Project administration. ME: Investigation, Methodology, Writing—review & editing. ME-M: Methodology, Data curation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abdelaziz Elgaml.

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El-Mowafy, M., Elegezy, M., El-Mesery, M. et al. Characterization of a breakthrough vaccine escape strain associated with overt hepatitis B virus infection. Virus Genes 60, 235–239 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-024-02055-w

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