Journal article
Sub-optimal protection against past hepatitis B virus infection where subtype mismatch exists between vaccine and circulating viral genotype in northern Australia
BC Cheah, J Davies, GR Singh, N Wood, K Jackson, M Littlejohn, B Davison, P McIntyre, S Locarnini, JS Davis, SYC Tong
Vaccine | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2018
Abstract
Background: In Australia's Northern Territory, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) subgenotype A2 (subtype adw2) vaccine was introduced in 1988 for Indigenous infants. Subsequently, the circulating viral genotype has been identified as subgenotype C4 (subtype ayw3). We assessed HBV vaccine effectiveness (VE) in light of this subtype mismatch. Methods: Participants of the Aboriginal Birth Cohort (ABC) study were recruited at birth (1987–1990), with HBV serology obtained at follow-up waves 3 (2005–2007) and 4 (2013–2015). Participants were immune if HBV surface antibody levels exceeded 10 IU/L. We determined the VE against any HBV infection (anti-HBc+) and against chronic infection (HBsAg+ or HBV DNA+..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land where this research was undertaken. We thank the young adults of the ABC, and their families and communities for their co-operation and support, as well as all the individuals who helped in urban and remote locations. We thank the dedicated ABC research team who traced participants and collected data. We wish to acknowledge the late Dr. Susan Sayers, founder of the ABC study, who dedicated her life to paediatric Indigenous health in the Top End. The work was supported by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grants (#1060811 and #1046391) and NHMRC fellowships to SYCT (#1145033), JSD (#1083105) and ID (#1123427).