Occurrence of occult hepatitis B virus infection associated with envelope protein mutations according to anti-HBs carriage in blood donors

OBJECTIVES: ) mutations relating to hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) elicited by vaccination or a limited host immune response to HBV have not been fully explored. METHODS: strains associated with envelope protein (pre-S/S) amino acid substitutions obtained from 99 blood donors stratified according to anti-HBs carriage were characterized extensively. RESULTS: , and sA166 in both genotypes were possibly immune-induced escape mutation sites. CONCLUSIONS: Several mutations in pre-S/S of OBI appeared to be associated with carrier anti-HBs pressure, which might be risk factors for potential reactivation of viruses under anti-HBs selection in OBI carriers.