Discovery of a Novel Hepatovirus (Phopivirus of Seals) Related to Human Hepatitis A Virus.

ABSTRACT: Describing the viral diversity of wildlife can provide interesting and useful insights into the natural history of established human pathogens. In this study, we describe a previously unknown picornavirus in harbor seals (tentatively named phopivirus) that is related to human hepatitis A virus (HAV). We show that phopivirus shares several genetic and phenotypic characteristics with HAV, including phylogenetic relatedness across the genome, a specific and seemingly quiescent tropism for hepatocytes, structural conservation in a key functional region of the type III internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), and a codon usage bias consistent with that of HAV. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an important viral hepatitis in humans because of the substantial number of cases each year in regions with low

SUBMITTER: Anthony SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4550696 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature