Abstract
Hepaciviruses represent a group of viruses that pose a significant threat to the health of humans and animals. During the last decade, new members of the genus Hepacivirus have been identified in various host species worldwide, indicating the widespread distribution of genetically diversified hepaciviruses among animals. By applying unbiased high-throughput sequencing, a novel hepacivirus, provisionally designated Hepacivirus Q, was discovered in duck liver samples collected in Guangdong province of China. Genetic analysis revealed that the complete polyprotein of Hepacivirus Q shares 23.9–46.6% amino acid identity with other representatives of the genus Hepacivirus. Considering the species demarcation criteria for hepaciviruses, Hepacivirus Q should be regarded as a novel hepacivirus species of the genus Hepacivirus within the family Flaviviridae. Phylogenetic analyses also indicate the large genetic distance between Hepacivirus Q and other known hepaciviruses. Molecular detection of this novel hepacivirus showed an overall prevalence of 15.9% in duck populations in partial areas of Guangdong province. These results expand knowledge about the genetic diversity and evolution of hepaciviruses and indicate that genetically divergent hepaciviruses are circulating in duck populations in China.
Highlights
Academic Editor: The genus Hepacivirus, along with the genera Flavivirus, Pegivirus, and Pestivirus, currently belongs to the family Flaviviridae, which comprises a genetically diverse group of human and animal pathogens [1]
Through de novo assembly and comparison against the nr database using the diamond blastx program with an e-value cutoff of 1 × 10−4, six contigs ranging from 455 to 3016 nt in length were annotated as the Bald eagle hepacivirus of the genus Hepacivirus within the family Flaviviridae, with 37.4–65.1% amino acid identity
The complete genome sequence contained one open reading frame (ORF) of 9000 nucleotides which encodes a polyprotein of 2999 amino acids
Summary
Academic Editor: The genus Hepacivirus, along with the genera Flavivirus, Pegivirus, and Pestivirus, currently belongs to the family Flaviviridae, which comprises a genetically diverse group of human and animal pathogens [1]. Members of the genus Hepacivirus are enveloped viruses, with unsegmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genomes about 10 kb in length. Encoding a single polyprotein of about 3000 amino acids (aa), which is flanked by a 50 untranslated region (UTR) and a 30 UTR [1]. This polyprotein is further cleaved by host and viral proteases into structural proteins (Core, E1, and E2) and nonstructural proteins (p7, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B) [2,3]. Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the type species of the genus Hepacivirus, is one of the leading causes of acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in humans, and the infection rate of HCV worldwide is approximately 3%, with an estimated.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
