RNA extracted from liver tissue of baboon 9732 was reverse transcribed and amplified in precore/core (nt 1765–1968) and surface (nt 459–710) open reading frames (Figure 4). Sequences of these amplicons were identical to sequences of the DNA isolated from liver of baboon 9732.
Identification of cccDNA in Baboon Liver Tissue
cccDNA was detected in liver tissue of baboon 9732 by using real-time PCR. DNA from HBV DNA–positive tumorous and nontumorous human liver and plasmid DNA containing a greater than full-length HBV genome were used as positive controls, and DNA from rat liver tissue was used as a negative control. HBV cccDNA–positive controls had melting temperatures of 82.7°C–84.0°C, and negative controls had melting temperatures