Fig. 4.

Virological measures of HBV in plasma and liver. (a) Schematic representation of viral replication of HBV following entry of a hepatocyte after binding to its receptor and the formation of viral intermediates including rcDNA = relaxed circular DNA, cccDNA = covalently closed circular DNA and pgRNA = pre-genomic RNA. HBsAg = HBV surface antigen is produced from the preS1 and preS2 RNA transcripts. pgRNA undergoes reverse transcription to form HBV DNA which is then packaged with viral proteins and then released as a virion from the cell. (b–e) Quantification of HBV DNA (b) and quantitative (q)HBsAg (c) in plasma and HBV relaxed circular (rc)DNA (d) and covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA (e) in liver biopsies prior to initiation of ART (red) and on ART (black). p values were determined by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. n = 18 for panels b and c and n = 11 for panels d and e. Boxes represent range with line at the median. GEq = genome equivalents. ns = not significant. LOQ = limit of quantification. ∗p < 0.05; ∗∗p < 0.01; ∗∗∗p < 0.001; ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.