Detection and genome characterization of four novel bat hepadnaviruses and a hepevirus in China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In recent years, novel hepadnaviruses, hepeviruses, hepatoviruses, and hepaciviruses have been discovered in various species of bat around the world, indicating that bats may act as natural reservoirs for these hepatitis viruses. In order to further assess the distribution of hepatitis viruses in bat populations in China, we tested the presence of these hepatitis viruses in our archived bat liver samples that originated from several bat species and various geographical regions in China.

Methods

A total of 78 bat liver samples (involving two families, five genera, and 17 species of bat) were examined using nested or heminested reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) with degenerate primers. Full-length genomic sequences of two virus strains were sequenced followed by ph

SUBMITTER: Wang B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5320732 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature