The integration model of hepatitis B virus genome in hepatocellular carcinoma cells based on high-throughput long-read sequencing

HBV integration and function has gradually been expanding. However, the exact mode of HBV integration re-mains unclear. In our research, the high-throughput long-read sequencing was combined with bioinformatics to study the complete mode of HBV integration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The results demonstrated that: 1) The HBV insertion sequences of HBV integration events accounted for 49.5% of the total HBV sequences. 2) Short insertion segments with the length of 0-1 kbp accounted for 50% and the long insertion segments (>3 kbp) accounted for 25% of HBV insertion events. 3)There were different HBV insertion length in the breakpoints formed within different regions. 4) The occurrence of HBV integration events was accompanied by more frequent structural variations. 5)Furthermore, multiple HBV integration patterns were confirmed based on complete HBV insertion sequences. Our research not only clarified a variety of perfect HBV integration models but also determined multiple specific features of HBV integration.

Automated summary

This study used high-throughput long-read sequencing combined with bioinformatics to study the complete mode of HBV integration in HCC cells. The results revealed that short insertion segments accounted for 50% of HBV insertion events, with different lengths of HBV insertion in breakpoints in different regions. Additionally, the occurrence of HBV integration events was associated with more frequent structural variations.