title: The hepatitis delta (delta) virus possesses a circular RNA.
abstract: Hepatitis delta (delta) virus (HDV), a satellite virus of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), causes a severe form of viral hepatitis in humans. Here we present evidence based on electron microscopy and electrophoretic behaviour that HDV contains a single stranded circular RNA molecule. This is the first animal virus identified with a circular RNA genome. Circular RNAs have only been found in plant viruses. We have obtained a partial complementary DNA clone representing approximately 25% of the total genome of HDV. Analysis of this cDNA revealed similarity to two plant viruses that may explain the origin of the virus.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012313:RNA; D000079962:RNA, Circular; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D000079962:RNA, Circular; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA