During chronic HBV infection, the Hepatitis B “e” antigen (HBeAg) negative phase is associated with a large variety of clinical conditions ranging from HBeAg-negative infection (characterized by persistently serum HBV-DNA <2000IU/ml and normal ALT) to HBeAg-negative hepatitis where the interaction between the virus and the host immune cells leads to progressive liver necroinflammation, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [2]. The gene discussed is GPT; the disease is infection.