We describe the establishment of a seronegative occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) in a successfully vaccinated infant who underwent liver transplantation from an donor positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). The use of highly sensitive droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assays revealed a not negligible and transcriptionally active intrahepatic HBV reservoir (circular covalently closed DNA, relaxed circular DNA, and pregenomic RNA: 5.6, 2.4, and 1.1 copies/1000 cells, respectively), capable to sustain ongoing viral production and initial liver damage. Next-generation sequencing revealed a peculiar enrichment of hepatitis B surface antigen vaccine-escape mutations that could have played a crucial role in OBI transmission. This clinical case highlights the pathobiological complexity and the diagnostic challenges underlying OBI.

Salpini, R., Pietrobattista, A., Piermatteo, L., Basso, M.s., Bellocchi, M.c., Liccardo, D., et al. (2019). Establishment of a Seronegative Occult Infection With an Active Hepatitis B Virus Reservoir Enriched of Vaccine Escape Mutations in a Vaccinated Infant After Liver Transplantation. THE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 220(12), 1935-1939 [10.1093/infdis/jiz411].

Establishment of a Seronegative Occult Infection With an Active Hepatitis B Virus Reservoir Enriched of Vaccine Escape Mutations in a Vaccinated Infant After Liver Transplantation

Salpini R.;Piermatteo L.;Bellocchi M. C.;Scutari R.;Svicher V.
2019-11-06

Abstract

We describe the establishment of a seronegative occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) in a successfully vaccinated infant who underwent liver transplantation from an donor positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). The use of highly sensitive droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assays revealed a not negligible and transcriptionally active intrahepatic HBV reservoir (circular covalently closed DNA, relaxed circular DNA, and pregenomic RNA: 5.6, 2.4, and 1.1 copies/1000 cells, respectively), capable to sustain ongoing viral production and initial liver damage. Next-generation sequencing revealed a peculiar enrichment of hepatitis B surface antigen vaccine-escape mutations that could have played a crucial role in OBI transmission. This clinical case highlights the pathobiological complexity and the diagnostic challenges underlying OBI.
6-nov-2019
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore MED/07 - MICROBIOLOGIA E MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
English
HBV reservoir; digital droplet PCR; hepatitis B occult infection; liver transplantation; vaccine escape mutations
Salpini, R., Pietrobattista, A., Piermatteo, L., Basso, M.s., Bellocchi, M.c., Liccardo, D., et al. (2019). Establishment of a Seronegative Occult Infection With an Active Hepatitis B Virus Reservoir Enriched of Vaccine Escape Mutations in a Vaccinated Infant After Liver Transplantation. THE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 220(12), 1935-1939 [10.1093/infdis/jiz411].
Salpini, R; Pietrobattista, A; Piermatteo, L; Basso, Ms; Bellocchi, Mc; Liccardo, D; Carioti, L; Francalanci, P; Aragri, M; Alkhatib, M; Scutari, R; C...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/238644
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