Abstract: The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside or nucleotide analogs and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity to these antibodies. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants, which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimens and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular HBV variants. The present invention also contemplates the use of the viral variants to screen for and/or develop or design agents capable of inhibiting infection, replication and/or release of the virus.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of infection in mammals and avian species by pathogenic agents such as, but not limited to, viruses. The present invention further provides compounds useful in the treatment of other disease conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present invention further provides methods for diagnosing infection by pathogenic organisms and viruses or other disease conditions and agents useful in diagnostic protocols. The present invention further contemplates methods for monitoring disease states and providing an indication of the susceptibility of a subject for infection by a pathogenic organism or virus or development of other diseased states. In particular, the present invention enables a determination of whether, including a prediction of the level of likelihood that, a subject will respond to therapeutic or prophylactic intervention of an infection or disease condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside or nucleotide analogs and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity to these antibodies. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants, which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimens and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular HBV variants. The present invention also contemplates the use of the viral variants to screen for and/or develop or design agents capable of inhibiting infection, replication and/or release of the virus.

Abstract: Disclosed are viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents including nucleoside analogues and immunological mediators such as immunoglobulins and immune cells. Also provided are hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants which exhibit a level of replication fitness in the presence of a nucleoside analogue similar to or greater than in the absence of the nucleoside analogue. The present invention also provides methods of treating HBV infection, including a method for identifying a need to change or otherwise alter an existing therapeutic regimen. Also disclosed are methods for monitoring the development in a subject of an increased HBV load in the presence of a nucleoside analogue. The present invention further provides the use of nucleoside analogue-resistant HBV variants which exhibit a similar or increased replication fitness in the presence of the nucleoside analogue compared to in the absence of the nucleoside analogue to screen for medicaments to treat HBV infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside analogs and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity to these antibodies. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants, which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimens and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular HBV variants. The present invention also contemplates the use of the viral variants to screen for agents capable of inhibiting infection, replication and/or release of the virus.