[Hepatitis B virus genotypes and the heterogeneity of its polymerase gene].

Objective: To study the heterogeneity of polymerase gene (P gene) within hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes based on a systematic analysis of 202 HBV P genes, providing some useful references for further studies on the relationship among HBV genotypes, P gene mutations, replication and nucleoside analogues drug-resistance.

Methods: 202 HBV complete sequences containing P genes were obtained from GenBank and were analysed using computer softwares.

Results: There were some genotype-related characteristics of HBV P genes.