8Discussion: Interestingly, the most frequently observed naturally occurring core protein mutation found in CHB and also in HCC patients I97L or F97L which is associated with ""immature virion secretion"" was completely absent in Indian patients with HBV-genotype D while among the ""low secretion core variants"" such as P5T/A/S, a new variant P5R was noted with high frequency in HBV-genotype D related HCC in previous Indian study."

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