Quasispecies Analysis Through NGS and Identification of Escape Mutation in a Family Infected with Hepatitis B Virus: A Study from Lahore, Pakistan.

Next generation sequencing (NGS) provides an accurate analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) as compared to Sanger sequencing. In 2019, samples from HBV infected family of mother and her two sons samples were collected from Lahore, Pakistan. Sequencing of S gene, Geno2pheno (HBV) 2.0 tool and GHOST platform were used to analyze the genotype, mutations (natural and escape) and quasispecies analysis of the HBV. All samples in family were infected with genotype HBV/D1 and had high viral load (10e8 IU). An vaccine escape mutation "C137W" was identified in mother and a son. Mother sample were shown more number of haplotypes and total diversity as compared to sons. The quasispecies analysis showed the mother and sons were infected with HBV having similar genetic makeup, indicating the vertical transfer of infection. This case study provides knowledge about genetic variations that contributes to the improved diagnosis of the infection, treatment therapy, follow-up, and future treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]