scholarly journals Cas9-targeted nanopore sequencing reveals epigenetic heterogeneity after de novo assembly of native full-length hepatitis B virus genomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe Goldsmith ◽  
Damien Cohen ◽  
Anaëlle Dubois ◽  
Maria Guadalupe Martinez ◽  
Kilian Petitjean ◽  
...  

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) contains a 3.2 kb DNA genome and causes acute and chronic hepatitis. HBV infection is a global health problem, with 350 million chronically infected people at increased risk of developing liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methylation of HBV DNA in a CpG context (5mCpG) can alter the expression patterns of viral genes related to infection and cellular transformation. Moreover, it may also provide clues as to why certain infections are cleared or persist with or without progression to cancer. The detection of 5mCpG often requires techniques that damage DNA or introduce bias through a myriad of limitations. Therefore, we developed a method for the detection of 5mCpG on the HBV genome that does not rely on bisulfite conversion or PCR. With Cas9-guided RNPs to specifically target the HBV genome, we enriched in HBV DNA from primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) infected with different HBV genotypes, as well as enriching in HBV from infected patient liver tissue, followed by sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION. Detection of 5mCpG by nanopore sequencing was benchmarked with bisulfite-quantitative methyl-specific qPCR (BS-qMSP). The 5mCpG levels in HBV determined by BS-qMSP and nanopore sequencing were highly correlated. Our nanopore sequencing approach achieved a coverage of ~2000× of HBV depending on infection efficiency, sufficient coverage to perform a de novo assembly and detect small fluctuations in HBV methylation, providing the first de novo assembly of native HBV DNA, as well as the first landscape of 5mCpG from native HBV sequences. Moreover, by capturing entire HBV genomes, we explored the epigenetic heterogeneity of HBV in infected patients and identified four epigenetically distinct clusters based on methylation profiles. This method is a novel approach that enables the enrichment of viral DNA in a mixture of nucleic acid material from different species and will serve as a valuable tool for infectious disease monitoring.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe Goldsmith ◽  
Damien Cohen ◽  
Anaëlle Dubois ◽  
Maria-Guadalupe Martinez ◽  
Kilian Petitjean ◽  
...  

AbstractHepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a 3.2KB DNA virus that causes acute and chronic hepatitis. HBV infection is a world health problem, with 350 million chronically infected people at increased risk of developing liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methylation of HBV DNA in a CpG context (5mCpG) can alter the expression patterns of viral genes related to infection and cellular transformation. Moreover, it may also provide clues to why certain infections are cleared, or persist with or without progression to cancer. The detection of 5mCpG often requires techniques that damage DNA or introduce bias through a myriad of limitations. Therefore, we developed a method for the detection of 5mCpG on the HBV genome that does not rely on bisulfite conversion or PCR. With cas9 guided RNPs to specifically target the HBV genome, we enriched in HBV DNA from Primary Human Hepatocytes (PHH) infected with different HBV genotypes, as well as enriching in HBV from infected patient liver tissue; followed by sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION. Detection of 5mCpG by Nanopore sequencing was benchmarked with Bisulfite-quantitative Methyl Specific PCR (BS-qMSP). 5mCpG levels in HBV determined by BS-qMSP and Nanopore sequencing were highly correlated. Our Nanopore sequencing approach achieved a coverage of ∼2000x of HBV depending on infection efficacy, sufficient coverage to perform a de novo assembly and detect small fluctuations in HBV methylation, providing the first de novo assembly of native HBV DNA, as well as the first landscape of 5mCpG from native HBV sequences. Moreover, by capturing entire HBV genomes, we explored the epigenetic heterogeneity of HBV in infected patients and identified 4 epigenetically distinct clusters based on methylation profiles. This method is a novel approach that enables the enrichment of viral DNA in a mixture of nucleic acid material from different species and will serve as a valuable tool for infectious disease monitoring.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Sato ◽  
Toshiya Ishii ◽  
Fumiaki Sano ◽  
Takayuki Yamada ◽  
Hideaki Takahashi ◽  
...  

De novo hepatitis B is associated with a high risk of hepatic failure often resulting in fatal fulminant hepatitis even when nucleotide analogues are administered. A 77-year-old female developed de novo hepatitis B after R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) isolated from the patient was of genotype Bj, with a precore mutation (G1896A) exhibiting an extremely high viral load at the onset of hepatitis. She showed markedly high levels of transaminase with mild jaundice on admission and rapid decrease of prothrombin activity after admission. Although acute liver failure was averted by the administration of entecavir and corticosteroid pulse therapy, liver volume decreased to 860 ml, and marked hypoalbuminemia accompanying massive ascites occurred 2 months after the onset of hepatitis and persisted for 3 months with high levels of HBV DNA and mild abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels. Frequent infusions of albumin solution, nutrition support, and alleviation therapy showed limited effect. However, overall improvement along with HBV DNA reduction was observed after increasing the dose of entecavir and completion of prednisolone that was administered with a minimum dose for adrenal insufficiency. An immediate and sufficient suppression of virus replication with potent antiviral therapy is critical, particularly in patients infected with HBV precore mutation (G1896A) and/or Bj genotype, which may have a high viral replication and direct hepatocellular damage.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Lam ◽  
Christine Espiritu ◽  
Robert Vogel ◽  
Suping Ren ◽  
Vincent Lau ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT NVR 3-778 is the first capsid assembly modulator (CAM) that has demonstrated antiviral activity in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients. NVR 3-778 inhibited the generation of infectious HBV DNA-containing virus particles with a mean antiviral 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 0.40 µM in HepG2.2.15 cells. The antiviral profile of NVR 3-778 indicates pan-genotypic antiviral activity and a lack of cross-resistance with nucleos(t)ide inhibitors of HBV replication. The combination of NVR 3-778 with nucleos(t)ide analogs in vitro resulted in additive or synergistic antiviral activity. Mutations within the hydrophobic pocket at the dimer-dimer interface of the core protein could confer resistance to NVR 3-778, which is consistent with the ability of the compound to bind to core and to induce capsid assembly. By targeting core, NVR 3-778 inhibits pregenomic RNA encapsidation, viral replication, and the production of HBV DNA- and HBV RNA-containing particles. NVR 3-778 also inhibited de novo infection and viral replication in primary human hepatocytes with EC50 values of 0.81 µM against HBV DNA and between 3.7 and 4.8 µM against the production of HBV antigens and intracellular HBV RNA. NVR 3-778 showed favorable pharmacokinetics and safety in animal species, allowing serum levels in excess of 100 µM to be achieved in mice and, thus, enabling efficacy studies in vivo. The overall preclinical profile of NVR 3-778 predicts antiviral activity in vivo and supports its further evaluation for safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity in HBV-infected patients.


2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1751-1768 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fiorino ◽  
L. Bacchi-Reggiani ◽  
S. Sabbatani ◽  
F. Grizzi ◽  
L. di Tommaso ◽  
...  

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents a serious global health problem and persistent HBV infection is associated with an increased risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. Recently, the study of the role of microRNA (miRNA) in the pathogenesis of HBV has gained considerable interest as well as new treatments against this pathogen have been approved. A few studies have investigated the antiviral activity of vitamin E (VE) in chronic HBV carriers. Herein, we review the possible role of tocopherols in the modulation of host miRNA with potential anti-HBV activity. A systematic research of the scientific literature was performed by searching the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases. The keywords used were ‘HBV therapy’, ‘HBV treatment’, ‘VE antiviral effects’, ‘tocopherol antiviral activity’, ‘miRNA antiviral activity’ and ‘VE microRNA’. Reports describing the role of miRNA in the regulation of HBV life cycle,in vitroandin vivoavailable studies reporting the effects of VE on miRNA expression profiles and epigenetic networks, and clinical trials reporting the use of VE in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis were identified and examined. Based on the clinical results obtained in VE-treated chronic HBV carriers, we provide a reliable hypothesis for the possible role of this vitamin in the modulation of host miRNA profiles perturbed by this viral pathogen and in the regulation of some cellular miRNA with a suggested potential anti-HBV activity. This approach may contribute to the improvement of our understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms involved in HBV infection and increase the possibility of its management and treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A297-A297
Author(s):  
Fu-Sheng Wang ◽  
Fanping Meng ◽  
Jiehua Jin ◽  
Yuanyuan Li ◽  
Regina Wanju Wong ◽  
...  

BackgroundWe have demonstrated the ability of Hepatitis-B-virus (HBV)-specific T cell receptor (TCR) bioengineered T cells to recognize and lyse Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells expressing HBV antigens derived from HBV-DNA integration in patients with liver transplant.1 LioCyx-M is an immunotherapeutic product composing of autologous T cells transiently modified with in-vitro transcribed mRNA encoding HBV-specific TCR. The transient TCR expression makes LioCyx -M amenable to a dose escalating posology.MethodsThe primary endpoint of this phase 1 trial is to assess the safety and tolerability of LioCyx-M in patients with advanced HBV-HCC without curative treatment options. Eligible patients were diagnosed with Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage B or C HCC (Child-Pugh < 7 points), receiving >1 year antiviral treatment prior to enrollment. These patients had matching HLA class I genotypes which present HBV encoded antigen. Peripheral blood was collected from each patient prior to each dose for LioCyx-M manufacturing. Patients received 4 escalating doses of 1×104 cells/kg, 1×105 cells/kg, 1×106 cells/kg, 5×106 cells/kg bodyweight (BW) in the first treatment cycle, each intravenously administered weekly. Patients underwent 1-month safety assessment post the 4th infusion, according to Common Terminology NCI CTCAE Version 4.0.3. If there were no dose associated toxicities, patients were eligible to continue administration of LioCyx-M at dose of 5 × 106 cells/kg BW weekly. Tumor response per RECIST 1.1 criteria and survival time were assessed.ResultsAt data cutoff (30 April 2020), eight patients were enrolled, with a median age of 53 (range: 49 - 67). These patients received a median number of 6 (range: 4 - 12) infusions of LioCyx-M. 1 patient developed Grade 3 elevations in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin after receiving LioCyx-M at dose level of 1×105 cells/kg BW. Another patient had Grade 1 transient fever after receiving LioCyx-M at dose level 5×106 cells/kg BW in the 4th, 5th and 6th infusions. No treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) such as cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity were observed. No fatal trAEs were observed. The median time to progression was 1.9 months (range: 0.2 - 9.5 months). The median overall survival was 34 months (range: 3 - 38.2 months).ConclusionsThe encouraging clinical outcome and tolerable safety highlight the good benefit-risk profile of LioCyx-M. Therefore, further exploration of efficacy of LioCyx-M treatment for advanced HBV-HCC is warranted in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical study.AcknowledgementsFunding: Lion TCR.Trial RegistrationNCT03899415Ethics ApprovalThe study was approved by Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital’s Ethics Board, approval number R2016185DI010.ReferenceTan AT, Yang N, Lee Krishnamoorthy T, et al. Use of Expression Profiles of HBV-DNA Integrated Into Genomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Select T Cells for Immunotherapy. Gastroenterology 2019;156(6):1862–1876.e9.


2008 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. e415
Author(s):  
Z.L. Wu ◽  
X.D. Lu ◽  
X.Q. Zhong ◽  
L.F. Ling ◽  
G. Lin ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluyinka Oladele Opaleye ◽  
Adeolu Sunday Oluremi ◽  
Adetona Babatunde Atiba ◽  
Moses Olubusuyi Adewumi ◽  
Olatunji Victor Mabayoje ◽  
...  

HIV has been known to interfere with the natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study we investigate the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) among HIV-infected individuals in Nigeria. Overall, 1200 archived HIV positive samples were screened for detectable HBsAg using rapid technique, in Ikole Ekiti Specialist Hospital. The HBsAg negative samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HCV by ELISA. Polymerase chain reaction was used for HBV DNA amplification and CD4 counts were analyzed by cytometry. Nine hundred and eighty of the HIV samples were HBsAg negative. HBV DNA was detected in 21/188 (11.2%) of patients without detectable HBsAg. CD4 count for the patients ranged from 2 to 2,140 cells/μL of blood (mean = 490 cells/μL of blood). HCV coinfection was detected only in 3/188 (1.6%) of the HIV-infected patients (P>0.05). Twenty-eight (29.2%) of the 96 HIV samples screened were positive for anti-HBc. Averagely the HBV viral load was <50 copies/mL in the OBI samples examined by quantitative PCR. The prevalence of OBI was significantly high among HIV-infected patients. These findings highlight the significance of nucleic acid testing in HBV diagnosis in HIV patients.


2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 2199-2205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radhakrishnan P. Iyer ◽  
Yi Jin ◽  
Arlene Roland ◽  
John D. Morrey ◽  
Samir Mounir ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Several nucleoside analogs are under clinical development for use against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Lamivudine (3TC), a nucleoside analog, and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), an acyclonucleotide analog, are clinically approved. However, long-term treatment can induce viral resistance, and following the cessation of therapy, viral rebound is frequently observed. There continues to be a need for new antiviral agents with novel mechanisms of action. A library of more than 600 di- and trinucleotide compounds synthesized by parallel synthesis using a combinatorial strategy was screened for potential inhibitors of HBV replication using the chronically HBV-producing cell line 2.2.15. Through an iterative process of synthesis, lead optimization, and screening, three analogs were identified as potent inhibitors of HBV replication: dinucleotides ORI-7246 (drug concentration at which a 10-fold reduction of HBV DNA was observed [EC90], 1.4 μM) and ORI-9020 (EC90, 1.2 μM) and trinucleotide ORI-7170 (EC90, 7.2 μM). These analogs inhibited the replication of both strands of HBV DNA. No suppression of HBV protein synthesis or intracellular core particle formation by these analogs was observed. No inhibition of HBV DNA strand elongation by the analogs or their 5′-triphosphate versions was apparent in in vitro polymerase assays. Although the exact mechanism of action is not yet identified, present data are consistent with an inhibition of the HBV reverse transcriptase-directed priming step prior to elongation of the first viral DNA strand. In transient-transfection assays, these analogs inhibited the replication of 3TC-resistant HBV. Synergistic interactions in combination treatments between the analogs and either 3TC or ADV were observed. These compounds represent a novel class of anti-HBV molecules and warrant further investigation as potential therapeutic agents.


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