Abstract
Hepatitis B viruses, or hepadnaviruses (hepatotropic DNA viruses), comprise a family of small enveloped DNA viruses that replicate through reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate; their replication cycle is hence a cyclic permutation of that of retroviruses which are RNA viruses replicating through a DNA intermediate. Hepadnaviruses are characterized by narrow host range and pronounced liver tropism. The type member, and causative agent of B-type hepatitis in man, hepatitis B virus (HBV), infects only humans and higher primates; related viruses have been found in other mammals like the woodchuck (WHV), or the ground squirrel (GSHV), and also in birds like the Pekin duck (DHBV) or the grey heron (HHBV).
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