BIOINFORMATICS ANALYSES OF POLYMERASE (pol) GENE OF HBV GENOME OCCURRED IN BLOOD SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS OF KSA

Abstract

This study aimed to isolate of polymerase (pol) gene belonging to some hepatitis B virus (HBV) from some blood samples collected from different regions of KSA representing south, north, east, middle and west KSA. This was followed by determining the nucleotide sequences of this gene and carrying out some bioinformatics analyses on such genes. The presence of virus in some HBV-infected blood samples collected from different regions of KSA was serologically and molecularly confirmed by ELISA and Rt-PCR techniques. The nucleotide sequence of pol gene was determined and bioinformatically analyzed. Results showed that the nucleotide sequences of the partial sequences of the five HBV strains (LC152751.1, LC152752.1, LC152753.1, LC152757.1 and LC152759.1) were ranged from 600 to 899 nts and proved to be belonging to pol gene of HBV. Bioinformatics comparisons between the five HBV strains showed percent identities 92-98% and 80-95% at the levels of DNA and deduced amino acids, respectively, when compared to some overseas HBV strains recorded in GenBank. Types of domains (DNA_pol_viral_C and DNA pol viral-N) its accession (pfam00336 and pfam00242), super families (RT-like superfamily and cl02825) of the sequenced pol gene(s) were also addressed. Differences at the levels of DNA, encoding amino acids, i.e., open reading frames