Which property of the hepatitis B virus genome explains its susceptibility to nucleoside analogue antivirals such as entecavir and tenofovir?
- A Its segmented genome undergoes antigenic shift
- B Its double-stranded RNA genome activates TLR3 signaling
- C Its circular DNA replicates through an RNA intermediate using a reverse transcriptase ✓
- D Its integrase inserts proviral DNA into the host chromosome
Correct answer: C. Its circular DNA replicates through an RNA intermediate using a reverse transcriptase
Explanation
HBV is a partially double-stranded circular DNA hepadnavirus that replicates through a pregenomic RNA intermediate copied back into DNA by the viral polymerase, which functions as a reverse transcriptase. Nucleos(t)ide analogues terminate this reverse transcription step. Integrase is an HIV and retroviral enzyme, not an HBV enzyme, and HBV DNA does not integrate as part of the replication cycle, which eliminates option D.
Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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