Genetic Susceptibility of Saudi Population to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection and the Predicted Functional Consequences

Abstract

Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a global public health challenge, for which an effective cure remains elusive. A substantial amount of data has shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within host genes can affect the regulation and expression of proteins, thereby influencing the susceptibility to HBV infection as well as disease progression and response to treatment. HBV-related SNPs have been identified in the population of Saudi Arabia, however, there is a lack of in-depth characterization of the translational and functional impact of these SNPs. This article aims to analyze the SNPs significantly associated with HBV-associated complications in the Saudi population, predict their functional impact using bioinformatic tools and propose future projections for HBV research in Saudi Arabia. The findings of these genetic studies are likely to pave the way for developing more effective preventive and therapeutic interventions by personalizing the management of HBV infection.