Entecavir‐resistant hepatitis B virus decreases surface antigenicity: A full genome and functional characterization

Background and Aim Since polymerase and surface genes overlap in hepatitis B virus (HBV), an antiviral‐induced mutation in the polymerase gene may alter the surface antigenicity in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but this possibility has not been clearly confirmed. This study aimed to determine the drug susceptibility and surface antigenicity of the patient‐derived mutants. Patients and Methods Full‐length HBV genomes isolated from four...