T
ThomasS111
@ThomasS111
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection inducesa disease state characterised by liver damage, inflammation and viralpersistence. Infection also increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.HBV belongs to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. Its genome consists ofpartially double stranded circular DNA. The DNA is enclosed in anucleocapsid, or core antigen (HBcAg), which is surrounded by a sphericalenvelope (surface antigen or HBsAg). The core antigen shares its sequenceswith the e antigen (HBeAg) but no cross reactivity between the two proteinshas been observed. The HBV genome also encodes a DNA polymerase that alsoacts as a reverse transcriptase.