Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mutations in the
core promoter and
precore regions of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome, notably the double substitution (AGG to TGA) at nt positions 1762-1764 in the
core promoter, and the
precore stop codon mutation
G to A at nt 1896, can often explain the anti-
HBe phenotype in chronic carriers.
Result: The seven others (five from genotype D and two from genotype F) showed the
1896 G to A substitution leading to a stable T1858:A1896 base pairing and introducing a stop codon into the ORF of th