HBV DRUG RESISTANCE DETECTION METHODS

摘要

New polymorphisms in the nucleic acid sequences of the DNA polymerase/reversetranscriptase open reading frame and viral surface antigen open reading frameof the hepatitis B virus are reported. In particular, the present inventionrelates to the mutation YMDD .fwdarw. YSDD in the HBV reverse transcriptasedomain and to the W196V mutation in the small HBV viral surface antigen. Saidpolymorphisms are affecting the detection of drug resistance mutations bygenotypic methods and diagnostic kits based thereon. The present inventionrelates to methods and diagnostic kits for detection of a HBV virus comprisingsaid nucleic acid polymorphisms. In particular, those methods utilizingoligonucleotides capable of hybridizing to said HBV nucleic acid polymorphismsare envisaged.