Mutations in VP0 and 2C Proteins of Duck Hepatitis A Virus Type 3 Attenuate Viral Infection and Virulence.

ABSTRACT: Duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV) is prevalent worldwide and has caused significant economic losses. As the predominant serotype in China, DHAV-3 has become a major challenge to the local duck industry. Here the genetics and pathogenesis of a virulent DHAV-3 strain and its embryo-passaged strain were assessed. There were only two amino acid substitutions (Y164N in VP0 protein and L71I in 2C protein) introduced during the adaptation process. The pathogenicity of these strains was further evaluated in vivo. Clinical signs, gross pathology, and histopathological analysis showed that the embryo-passaged strain was attenuated. Meanwhile, the viral RNA loads were significantly lower in the liver tissues of the ducklings infected with the attenuated strain. As expected, infection with the virulent an

SUBMITTER: Wen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6789628 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature