HepSEQ – an Integrated Hepatitis B Epidemiology and Sequence Analysis Platform

R Myers; S Gnaneshan; S Ijaz; R Tedder; M Ramsay; J Green; HepSEQ Steering Committee

doi:10.2807/ese.13.19.18866-en

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HepSEQ – an Integrated Hepatitis B Epidemiology and Sequence Analysis Platform
R Myers¹ , S Gnaneshan ¹ , S Ijaz² , R Tedder² , M Ramsay³ , J Green¹ , HepSEQ Steering Committee^1,2,3
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Affiliations: ¹ Bioinformatics Unit, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, London, United Kingdom ² Virus Reference Department, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, London, United Kingdom ³ Immunisation Department, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence:
R Myers
richard.myers hpa.org.uk
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Citation style for this article: Myers R, Gnaneshan S, Ijaz S, Tedder R, Ramsay M, Green J, HepSEQ Steering Committee Collective. HepSEQ – an Integrated Hepatitis B Epidemiology and Sequence Analysis Platform. Euro Surveill. 2008;13(19):pii=18866. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.13.19.18866-en Received: 03 Apr 2008

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major human pathogen. The outcome of acute hepatitis B is variable but usually followed by a complete recovery. A small proportion of infections in adults and a higher proportion of infections in early childhood continue in a chronically infected state in which the virus persists in the liver. Patients with chronic hepatitis B usually have no initial symptoms of infection, but over time the major disease sequelae, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, can develop. It is estimated that some 350 million people worldwide are currently chronically infected with HBV, but many more will have been infected and recovered.