Hep B Vaccine May not Work Against Genotype F

The Hepatitis B vaccine is based on recombinant HBsAg protein from genotype A and D and according to this study, the vaccine may not work to prevent infection with Genotype F.


J Clin Virol. 2007 Apr

Acute hepatitis B virus infection by genotype F despite successful vaccination in an immune-competent German patient.

Tacke F, Amini-Bavil-Olyaee S, Heim A, Luedde T, Manns MP, Trautwein C.
Medical Clinic III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis worldwide, and efficient protection can usually be achieved by vaccination that is based on recombinant HBsAg protein from HBV genotype A and D. RESULTS: Here we report the case of a fully immune-competent German patient that acquired a symptomatic acute HBV infection during adulthood despite a complete and formally successful vaccination, which had resulted in anti-HBs titers considered protective. Further phylogentic analysis identified an infection with the rare genotype F of HBV, possibly acquired in Spain, without apparent aberrations in the immunodominant 'a' determinant domain of the envelope gene. However, sequence comparisons revealed that all reported genotype F isolates display marked differences from the other genotypes in this domain which serves as an epitope for humoral immune responses. CONCLUSIONS: The rare HBV genotype F, as detected in this immune-competent, previously vaccinated patient, has marked sequences differences in the envelope/polymerase gene. Therefore, current HBV vaccines based on genotype A and D may not result in full protective immunity towards viral strains from genotype F.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17324621?ordinalpos=14&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

[cajim]

Thanks for the info.