A COMPARISON OF AMINO-ACID-SEQUENCES OF HEPATITIS-B VIRUS S-GENE IN 46 CHILDREN PRESENTING VARIOUS CLINICAL-FEATURES FOR IMMUNOPROPHYLAXIS

We compared amino acid sequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) S protein deduced from analyzed DNA sequence in 46 children who received immunop rophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HBV. They were c lassified into 6 groups by their clinical features. The antibody escap e mutants were found in 8 cases among 46 cases. We studied the differe nce in clinical features in these cases and speculated that 126 Ser or 140 Ser-strain may have a different behavior in relation to antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen from 126 Ban or 145 Arg-strain.