Serological Investigation against Recombinant Hepatitis B Virus Surface Mutants in Vaccinated Healthcare Workers and HBV Chronic Carriers with Anti-HBs

Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still a worldwide public health problem despite regular vaccination programs around the world. This study was performed to investigate the serological pattern of vaccinated subjects against recombinant repeatedly isolates of hepatitis B virus surface mutants, and evaluate the characteristics of HBsAg positive patients having HBs antibodies concurrently. Methods: Fifty vaccinated health care staffs participated in this study accompanied with five patients simultaneously carry HBsAg and anti-HBs antibody. For all the samples, the anti-HBs Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed for detecting antibody against thirteen recombinant mutants. Findings: The results showed that all vaccinated individuals had clinically sufficient protective antibody values (greater than 10 MIU/ml) with the mean value of 165 mIU/ml ± 29 mIU/ml. whereas, only 30% of individuals showed the complete protective neutralizing immune response to all specific HBsAg recombinant mutants. The lack of responsiveness mainly observed in three of HBV mutants; D144A (70%), Q129R (48.5%) and G145R (ad) (30%) respectively. The HBV chronic carriers with anti-HBs showed having the Q129R, G145R (ay), D144A, T126 N, T126s and G145 (ad) escaped mutants. Conclusion: The lack of responsiveness to some specific HBV mutants in vaccinated subjects, point out the potential risk of exposure to hepatitis B virus mutants.