HBV Basics

Genome: partial ds DNA, circular, monopartite, smallest at 3.2kb in length

Morphology: roughly spherical, icosahedral nucleocapsid.
Replication: Violates Central Dogma-DNA->RNA->DNA

Clinical Symptoms: Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea

Transmission: Blood-borne, sexual

Prevention: Recombinant HBV surface antigen vaccine or HBV immunoglobulin post-exposure prophylaxis.

Related Viruses: Duck Hepatits B, Ground Squirrel Hepatitis Virus, Wooley Monkey Hepatitis Virus, Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus


Pathogenesis

Hepatitis B virus is dangerous because it attacks the liver, thus inhibiting the functions of this vital organ. The virus causes persistent infection, chronic hepatitis and immune complex disease.

The younger a person is when she becomes infected with HBV, the more likely she is to be asymptomatic and become a chronic carrier of the disease. Babies born to infected mothers are at very high risk of to becoming carriers and developing liver pathology. Only about 5% to 10% of Immuno-competent adults infected with HBV develop chronic hepatitis B. Many people die mostly due to cirrhosis and liver cancers that develop in people with the chronic form of this disease.


Picture Extracted From:
http://biology.kenyon.edu/slonc/bio38/scuderi/parti.html