Mutations in the HBV PreS/S gene related to hepatocellular carcinoma in Vietnamese chronic HBV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection is a major health problem and leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Several point and deletion mutations on the PreS/S gene have been intensively considered associated with HCC. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of HBV PreS/S mutations in Vietnamese CHB-infected patients and their association with HCC. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 02/2020 to 03/2021, recruited Vietnamese CHB-infected patients with HBV-DNA >3 log10-copies/mL and successful PreS/S gene sequencing. Mutations were detected by direct Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: 247 CHB-infected patients were recruited, characterized by 68.8% males, 54.7% HBV genotype B, 57.5% HBeAg positive, 23.1% fibrosis score ≥F3 and 19.8% HCC. 61.8% amino acid replacements were detected throughout the PreS1/PreS2/S genes. The most common point-mutations included N/H51Y/T/S/Q/P (30.4%), V68T/S/I (44.9%), T/N87S/T/P (46.2%) on PreS1 gene; T125S/N/P (30.8%), I150T (42.5%) on PreS2 gene; S53L (37.7%), A184V/G (39.3%), S210K/N/R/S (39.3%) on S gene. The rates of case(s) with any point-mutation on the Major Hydrophylic Region (MHR) and the "a" determinant region were 63.6% and 39.7%, respectively. Most of S point-mutations were presented with low rates such as T47A/E/V/K (9.3%), P120S/T (8.5%), G145R (2%). On multivariable analysis, males (OR = 4.51, 95%CI 1.78-11.4, p = 0.001), age≥40 (OR = 5.5, 95%CI 2.06-14.68, p = 0.001), W4P/R/Y on PreS1 (OR = 11.56, 95%CI 1.99-67.05, p = 0.006) and 4 S point-mutations as: T47A/E/V/K (OR = 3.67, 95%CI 1.19-11.29, p = 0.023), P120S/T (OR = 3.38, 95%CI 1.09-10.49, p = 0.035), S174N (OR = 29.73, 95%CI 2.12-417.07, p = 0.012), P203R (OR = 8.45, 95%CI 1.43-50.06, p = 0.019) were associated with HCC. CONCLUSIONS: We detected 61% amino acid changes on PreS/S regions in Vietnamese CHB patients. One point-mutation at amino acid 4 on PreS1 gene and 4 point-mutations at amino acids 47, 120, 174, and 203 on S gene were associated with HCC. Further investigations are recommended to further clarify the relationship and interaction between mutations in HBV genome and HCC progression.

Comprehensive Genome Analysis on the Novel Species Sphingomonas panacis DCY99T Reveals Insights into Iron Tolerance of Ginseng.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria play vital roles not only in plant growth, but also in reducing biotic/abiotic stress. Sphingomonas panacis DCY99T is isolated from soil and root of Panax ginseng with rusty root disease, characterized by raised reddish-brown root and this is seriously affects ginseng cultivation. To investigate the relationship between 159 sequenced Sphingomonas strains, pan-genome analysis was carried out, which suggested genomic diversity of the Sphingomonas genus. Comparative analysis of S. panacis DCY99T with Sphingomonas sp. LK11 revealed plant growth-promoting potential of S. panacis DCY99T through indole acetic acid production, phosphate solubilizing, and antifungal abilities. Detailed genomic analysis has shown that S. panacis DCY99T contain various heavy metals resistance genes in its genome and the plasmid. Functional analysis with Sphingomonas paucimobilis EPA505 predicted that S. panacis DCY99T possess genes for degradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbon and phenolic compounds in rusty-ginseng root. Interestingly, when primed ginseng with S. panacis DCY99T during high concentration of iron exposure, iron stress of ginseng was suppressed. In order to detect S. panacis DCY99T in soil, biomarker was designed using spt gene. This study brings new insights into the role of S. panacis DCY99T as a microbial inoculant to protect ginseng plants against rusty root disease.

Characterization of SCCA-IgM as a biomarker of liver disease in an Asian cohort of patients.

Viral hepatitis infection is a major global issue and a leading cause of liver disease and associated deaths. Over time, patients infected with hepatitis B (HBV) or C virus (HCV) develop cirrhosis and, eventually, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For this reason, they need to be constantly monitored. Current Asian guidelines recommend the determination of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) together with liver ultrasounds every six months to detect HCC nodules. However, both methods have several limitations, and other biomarkers have been studied for monitoring cirrhosis, including SCCA-IgM, an immune-complex formed by Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen and IgM. To date, SCCA-IgM has been validated as a novel biomarker for liver diseases only in European populations. The aim of our study was to analyze SCCA-IgM as a biomarker to monitor cirrhosis evolution in an Asian cohort of patients and to compare its performance to that of AFP. We analyzed the concentration of AFP and SCCA-IgM in serum samples obtained from a group of Asian adult patients with cirrhosis or HCC and a control group of patients admitted for gastrointestinal disorders. In untreated patients and similarly to AFP, SCCA-IgM levels were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis compared to those with HCC. In addition, SCCA-IgM, but not AFP serological levels, were significantly lower in HCC patients who were treated with surgical resection compared to those who received a different therapy.