Inspecting the Ribozyme Region of Hepatitis Delta Virus Genotype 1: Conservation and Variability.

ABSTRACT: The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) genome has an autocatalytic region called the ribozyme, which is essential for viral replication. The aim of this study was to use next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze the ribozyme quasispecies (QS) in order to study its evolution and identify highly conserved regions potentially suitable for a gene-silencing strategy. HDV RNA was extracted from 2 longitudinal samples of chronic HDV patients and the ribozyme (nucleotide, nt 688-771) was analyzed using NGS. QS conservation, variability and genetic distance were analyzed. Mutations were identified by aligning sequences with their specific genotype consensus. The main relevant mutations were tested in vitro. The ribozyme was conserved overall, with a hyper-conserved region between nt 715-745. No differen

SUBMITTER: Pacin-Ruiz B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8877431 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature