Patent ID: 6969583

Claim:
A method for detecting a variant HBV which exhibits an altered sensitivity to an agent, said method comprising: generating a genetic construct comprising a replication competent amount of the genome from said variant HBV contained in or fused to an amount of a baculovirus genome capable of infecting hepatocyte cells and then infecting said cells with said construct; contacting said cells, before, during, or after infection, with the agent to be tested; optionally further infecting said cells with the same genetic construct or a genetic construct comprising the genome of HBV wild type or another HBV variant; culturing said cells for a time and under conditions sufficient for the variant HBV to to be detected to replicate, express genetic sequences or assemble or release virus or virus-like particles if resistant to said agent; and subjecting the cells, cell lysates or culture supernatant fluid to viral- or viral-component-detection means to determine whether or not the variant HBV has replicated, expressed genetic material, assembled, or been released in the presence of said agent.