Basal core promote (BCP) mutations of hepatitis B virus show low replication fitness.
The precore mutations have no significant effect on viral replication.
Viral replication capacity of mutants parallels cccDNA acetylation status.
cccDNA is a target for methylation and is accompanied by DNMT1 upregulation.
HBV mutants modulate viral replication via cccDNA epigenetic control.