Surface gene variants of hepatitis B Virus in Saudi Patients.

Background/aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to be one of the most important viral pathogens in humans. Surface (S) protein is the major HBV antigen that mediates virus attachment and entry and determines the virus subtype. Mutations in S gene, particularly in the "a" determinant, can influence virus detection by ELISA and may generate escape mutants.

Differential expression of transforming growth factor-β1 and HBx enhances hepatitis B virus replication and augments host immune cytokines and chemokines.

Background/aims: This study investigated how HBV replication and host immune response are effected by reduced expression of TGF-β1 and HBx.

Material And Methods: Short interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown technology has been used to examine the role of TGF-β1 in hepatitis B virus replication. The siTGF-β1 has been transfected along with 1.