Serodetection Of Hepatitis B Virus Transcripts And Its Significance In HBV Vertical Transmission

AIM: This study applied a serodetection system which we have already developed [6-7] to detect the HBV DNA and RNAs in sera from HBsAg + mothers and their newborn infants. We analyzed the significance of viral transcripts including fRNA (Full length RNA) and trRNA (Truncated RNA) in HBV vertical transmission. We expect the study can help to provide HBV RNAs as the new serologic makers to diagnose and to monitor HBV vertical transmission infection in earlier stage. This will certainly provide a new basis to block the HBV vertical transmission more efficiently.METHODS: Viral nucleic acids were extracted from sera of the HBV surface antigen positive mothers and of their newborn infants using the High pure viral nucleic acid kit. HBV DNA and RNAs, including the full-length and truncated RNA molecules, were amplified respectively through PCR and RT-PCR targeted to the HBV X protein-encoding region. The PCR products were shown by 2% agarose electrophoresis. Southern-blotting were done to prove the specificity of PCR and RT-PCR.RESULTS: The viral DNA, fRNA and trRNA were detected in HBeAg+/ HBeAg- mothers at frequencies of 75%, 65%, 70% and 37.5%, 20.8%, 58.3%, respectively. The differences between these two groups were...