{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]],"date-time":"2025-12-29T12:58:42Z","timestamp":1767013122294,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766361600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Viral Hepatitis"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) represents a unique diagnostic and clinical challenge due to undetectable HBsAg despite HBV DNA presence. Genetic mutations, particularly in the HBV S gene, play a crucial role in immune evasion and diagnostic failures associated with OBI. This cross\u2010sectional study investigated the genetic mutations in the S gene of HBV among family members of chronically infected patients. This study enrolled 243 family members from 62 HBV\u2010infected index cases. Serological assays were used to identify HBsAg and anti\u2010HBc positivity. HBV DNA was amplified and sequenced in 12 cases, focusing on the S gene. The impact of mutations in the S gene was assessed through in silico analyses, including epitope prediction and secondary structure modelling. Of the household contacts, 9.05% were HBsAg\u2010positive and 37.03% were suspected OBI due to anti\u2010HBc positivity. Out of the suspected OBI, 20% of individuals had detectable HBV DNA. Mutations like R122K and V194A were found to be enriched among OBI sequences and were shown to alter immune epitopes without affecting protein structure. Genotype D was predominant in chronic cases, while genotype A was more frequent in OBI. The adw2 serotype was commonly observed in OBI cases. Thus, this study highlights the role of S gene mutations in OBI's diagnostic and immune escape mechanisms. The findings underline the importance of genotype\u2010specific diagnostic approaches and further investigations into the pre\u2010S regions to enhance understanding of HBV pathogenesis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/jvh.70124","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T11:05:26Z","timestamp":1766401526000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Molecular Insights Into the S Gene of Hepatitis B Virus: Analysis Among Household Contacts and Clinical Implications of Mutations"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"33","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0014-0009","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shreyasi","family":"Athalye","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Transfusion Transmitted Disease ICMR\u2010National Institute of Immunohaemaotology  Mumbai Maharashtra India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2001-4034","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Naveen","family":"Khargekar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Transfusion Transmitted Disease ICMR\u2010National Institute of Immunohaemaotology  Mumbai Maharashtra India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Priyanka","family":"Panale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Transfusion Transmitted Disease ICMR\u2010National Institute of Immunohaemaotology  Mumbai Maharashtra India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shailesh","family":"Shinde","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Transfusion Transmitted Disease ICMR\u2010National Institute of Immunohaemaotology  Mumbai Maharashtra India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Aruna","family":"Shankarkumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Transfusion Transmitted Disease ICMR\u2010National Institute of Immunohaemaotology  Mumbai Maharashtra India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6328-8190","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anindita","family":"Banerjee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Transfusion Transmitted Disease ICMR\u2010National Institute of Immunohaemaotology  Mumbai Maharashtra India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_12_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00046-19"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3346\/jkms.1993.8.6.395"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/0256-4947.51821"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2004.09.007"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jmv.20503"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jiph.2023.05.003"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2008.07.014"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2019.03.034"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2008.06.009"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2009.06.007"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/hep.24551"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_13_1","first-page":"1165","article-title":"High Genetic Variability of the Group\u2010Specific A\u2010Determinant of Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and the Corresponding Fragment of the Viral Polymerase in Chronic Virus Carriers Lacking Detectable HBsAg in Serum","volume":"81","author":"Weinberger K. 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