Abstract
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is currently only found in humans and is a satellite virus that depends on hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope proteins for assembly, release, and entry. Using meta-transcriptomics, we identified the genome of a novel HDV-like agent in ducks. Sequence analysis revealed secondary structures that were shared with HDV, including self-complementarity and ribozyme features. The predicted viral protein shares 32% amino acid similarity to the small delta antigen of HDV and comprises a divergent phylogenetic lineage. The discovery of an avian HDV-like agent has important implications for the understanding of the origins of HDV and sub-viral agents.
Highlights
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a human-specific pathogen and the sole member of the genusDeltavirus
In this study we describe a divergent HDV-like agent found in wild birds and in the absence of detectable duck hepatitis B virus (HBV) (DHBV)
RNA from an avian HDV-like agent was ten-fold less abundant than that of influenza A virus, but was more abundant than RNA from the host reference gene Ribosomal Protein S13 (RPS13) that is stably expressed in ducks [15] (Figure 1B)
Summary
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a human-specific pathogen and the sole member of the genusDeltavirus. Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a human-specific pathogen and the sole member of the genus. The HDV genome is unique among known animal viruses but shares similarities with plant sub-viral pathogens named viroids [1,2]. The single stranded, circular RNA genome of HDV is approximately 1700 nucleotides and is the smallest virus infecting mammals Self-complimentary and forms a highly base-paired rod-like structure. It encodes two proteins (small and large delta antigen, S-HDAg, and L-HDAg, respectively) from a single open reading frame. HDV is regarded as a sub-viral pathogen that requires the envelope proteins from the helper hepatitis B virus (HBV) for assembly and release, and subsequently for entry into the host cell [2]
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