Hepatitis B virus in Mauritania: genotypes and vaccine escape mutations in patients with active infection

with Sidi Mohamed Cheikh Bouna
2:15 - 2:30 pm via Zoom

Prevalence rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Mauritania are among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. While some public health programming exists, reach is limited and unavailable in most regions. Population level viral data can have important implications for how to best strategize for use of the most cost-effective programs. The objective of this project is to characterize HBV genotypes and clinically relevant mutations, including vaccine escape mutations, in Mauritanian patients with HBV infection. The team for this research project consists of Sidi Mohamed Cheikh Bouna, Cassie Thompson, Andrea Visjnevac, Flor Diaz, Mohamed Hemeyine, Souad Aboudkhil, and Supervisor Dr. Vanessa Meier Stephenson, Department of Medicine.