Ultrasensitive amplification refractory mutation system real-time PCR (ARMS RT-PCR) assay for detection of minority hepatitis B virus-resistant strains in the era of personalized medicine.

Resistance to antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been associated with mutations in the HBV polymerase region. This study aimed at developing an ultrasensitive method for quantifying viral populations with all major HBV resistance-associated mutations, combining the amplification refractory mutation system real-time PCR (ARMS RT-PCR) with a molecular beacon using a LightCycler. The discriminatory ability of this method, the ARMS RT-PCR with molecular beacon assay, was 0.

Renal transplantation from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive donors to HBsAg-negative recipients: a case of post-transplant fulminant hepatitis associated with an extensively mutated hepatitis B virus strain and review of the current literature.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present a fatal case of fulminant hepatitis B (FHB) that developed in a renal transplant recipient, immunized against hepatitis B, 1 year post transplantation.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction amplification and full genome sequencing were performed to investigate whether specific mutations were associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and FHB.

Results: Molecular analysis revealed multiple mutations in various open reading frames of HBV, the most important being the G145R escape mutation and a frameshift mutation-insertion (1838insA) within the pre-C/C reading frame.

Comparative evaluation of the performance of the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay for measurement of HIV-1 plasma viral load on genetically diverse samples from Greece.

Background: HIV-1 is characterized by increased genetic heterogeneity which tends to hinder the reliability of detection and accuracy of HIV-1 RNA quantitation assays.

Methods: In this study, the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 (Abbott RealTime) assay was compared to the Roche Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 (Cobas TaqMan) and the Siemens Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 (bDNA 3.

HBV viremia in newborns of HBsAg(+) predominantly Caucasian HBeAg(-) mothers.

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is an important public health problem worldwide and eliminating mother-to-infant transmission is important to decrease the prevalence of chronic HBV-infection. Although, immunoprophylaxis given at birth largely prevents mother-to-infant transmission, perinatal HBV viremia has been reported in HBsAg(-) newborns born mainly to HBeAg(+) women in endemic areas.

Objectives: To examine the incidence of perinatal HBV viremia in newborns of HBsAg(+) predominantly HBeAg(-) mothers.

Development of a new ultra sensitive real-time PCR assay (ultra sensitive RTQ-PCR) for the quantification of HBV-DNA.

Background: Improved sensitivity of HBV-DNA tests is of critical importance for the management of HBV infection. Our aim was to develop and assess a new ultra sensitive in-house real-time PCR assay for HBV-DNA quantification (ultra sensitive RTQ-PCR).

Results: Previously used HBV-DNA standards were calibrated against the WHO 1st International Standard for HBV-DNA (OptiQuant(R) HBV-DNA Quantification Panel, Accrometrix Europe B.