A new class of defective hepatitis B virus genomes with an internal poly(dA) sequence

Virology
G SommerH Will

Abstract

Sequence heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is increasingly recognized to play a role in virus-host interaction. We have used a recently established method for HBV full-length genome amplification to search for novel types of HBV variants and to investigate further the sequence heterogeneity of HBV genome populations. Using this method, a substantial fraction of HBV genomes much shorter than wildtype size was found in some sera and liver biopsies from infected patients. Cloning and sequencing of a number of these HBV genomes as well as hybridization studies revealed a new minor class of HBV genomes with an internal poly(dA) sequence approximately 60 to more than 100 nucleotides long in 4 of 10 patients. The 5'-ends of the internal poly(dA) sequences are located at positions corresponding to the authentic processing/polyadenylation sites of the RNA pregenome, whereas the positions of the 3'-ends are variable due to different sizes of adjacent deletions. These data suggest that the poly(A) tail of the pregenomic RNA is occasionally reverse transcribed by the HBV P-protein and during this process a deletion seems to be introduced into the DNA minus strand. We propose a mechanism by which this could be accomplished during DNA...Continue Reading

References

Oct 25, 1989·Nucleic Acids Research·M D Jones, N S Foulkes
Mar 1, 1987·Journal of Virology·H WillH Schaller
Mar 1, 1994·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·M FeitelsonA Vierucci
Apr 30, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M A NowakH McDade
Jan 1, 1996·Advances in Virus Research·D A Fallows, S P Goff
Oct 1, 1996·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·S GüntherH Meisel
Sep 1, 1996·Journal of Viral Hepatitis·M Nassal, H Schaller
Jan 30, 1997·The New England Journal of Medicine·J H Hoofnagle, A M di Bisceglie
Jan 1, 1997·Journal of Viral Hepatitis·Y MiyakawaM Mayumi
Jan 1, 1997·Journal of Viral Hepatitis·W F Carman
Jun 1, 1997·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·I PultH E Blum
Jul 11, 1997·Journal of Molecular Biology·J P VartanianS Wain-Hobson
Oct 6, 1997·Journal of Hepatology·S ZeuzemJ M Schmidt

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 10, 1999·Reviews in Medical Virology·S L NguiC G Teo
Sep 19, 2021·Gut·Dina KremsdorfPatrick Soussan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.