Researchers Uncover Low-Frequency Hepatitis B Drug-Resistant Mutations Using 454 Sequencing Systems

BRANFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A study published online last week in the Journal of Infectious Disease reports that ultra-deep sequencing has the ability to identify low-frequency hepatitis B virus (HBV) drug-resistant mutations in infected samples, including mutations undetected by standard direct PCR sequencing methods (1). The paper outlines the results of a collaborative study between Stanford University and 454 Life Sciences, a Roche Company, that used 454 Sequencing systems to examine blood samples from nucleoside and nucleotide reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) treated and untreated individuals. The study provides new insights into the dynamics of early stage NRTI resistance in HBV as current methods limit detection to mutations only after they have become prevalent.