Antiviral resistance mutants and applications thereof

A method for treating a patient infected with an HBV variant with reduced sensitivity to ADV, said method comprising:

• obtaining a sample of HBV isolate from a patient infected with an HBV,
• isolating the DNA genuine or the corresponding mRNA genome from said HBV,
• amplifying a portion of the genome, or cDNA from the mRNA, with one or more biotin-labeled or ligand-labeled primers that selectively bind to a portion of the HBV rt gene which codes for a T at rt85 and an A, an I or a V at rt204,
• creating labeled amplification products, wherein the one or more primers do not, bind to the portion of the HBV rt gene if the HBV rt gene does not encode for a the combination of the T at rt85 and the A, the I or the V at rt204,
• capturing the labeled amplification products by hybridization with an oligonucleotide that binds to the biotin or to the ligand, wherein the oligonucleotide is immobilized on a solid support,
• sequencing the amplification products,
• wherein the presence of the DNA or the mRNA which encodes for the combination of the T at position 85 and the A or the I or the V at position 204 in the amplification product, identifies the HBV variant as one with reduced sensitivity to ADV, and
• if the patient is infected with the HBV variant with reduced sensitivity to ADV, treating the patient with an anti-HBV agent selected from the group consisting of Penciclovir, FCV, 3TC, Emtricitabine (FTC), Clevudine, L-FMAU, Entecavir (ETV), DAPD, DXG, FLG, L-d4C, ICN, Racivir, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), tenofovir (TFV), 9-R-(2-phosphonomethoxypropyl)adenine (PMPA), interferon, hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG), and combinations thereof.