Abstract
We have observed in a previous study that insertion, deletion and partial frameshift mutation in the distal pre-S region did not abolish replication capacity of the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) (Li et al., 1989 J. Virol. 63, 4965–4968). To compare further the relative replication capacity between the pre-S mutant and wild type virus, ducks were infected with either the wild type DHBV strain or a pre-S mutant (FS-17) characterized by a total change of nine consecutive amino acid codons in the distal pre-S region. Compared with the wild type virus, FS-17 exhibited decreased replication capacity whether in separate or mixed infection. The decreased viral replication was correlated with delayed appearance of supercoiled DNA and viral RNA in the hepatocytes. Besides, FS-17 induced persistent viremia when inoculated into 1-day-old ducklings; hence the transient viremia which had been observed in the previous study was probably due to the time delay needed to generate compensatory deletion mutation.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.