Growıng Threat: Vaccıne Escape Mutant Hepatıtıs B Vıruses

HBV is a member of Hepadnavirus genus. HBV is a DNA virus with a diameter of 42 nm consisting of an outer lipid envelope which contains proteins HBsAg, pre-S1 and pre-S2. HBsAg is a product of ‘s’ gen. The s geneinvolves ‘a’ epitope124. -147. codones and this region is the affecting region for anti-HBs antibody binding. Vaccine /Immunglobulin escape mutations occur at HBV DNA s gene’s ‘a determinant’ region, 127149. codones. These mutations causes inability to bind of anti HBs antibody to HBsAg. Also, these variants are transmissible among humans although individuals were vaccined. The result of our literature investigation, the number of the cases which caused by vaccine escape mutant variants were found to be increased, especially in high endemicity region. Because of that, we think vaccine escape mutants are growing very important public health problem.