Selection of mutations in the hepatitis B virus polymerase during therapy of transplant recipients with lamivudine
We describe mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase gene in viruses which
reactivated in two patients during therapy with–2′–deoxy–3′–thiacytidine, or lamivudine
(3TC), and following orthotopic liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B. Virus resistance
to 3TC is associated with mutations which lead to amino acid substitutions in the highly
conserved tyr–met–asp–asp (YMDD) motif, part of the active site of the polymerase, and
which parallel those seen in resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Substitutions …
reactivated in two patients during therapy with–2′–deoxy–3′–thiacytidine, or lamivudine
(3TC), and following orthotopic liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B. Virus resistance
to 3TC is associated with mutations which lead to amino acid substitutions in the highly
conserved tyr–met–asp–asp (YMDD) motif, part of the active site of the polymerase, and
which parallel those seen in resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Substitutions …