title: The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of a hepatitis B virus isolated from a naturally infected chimpanzee.
abstract: The complete nucleotide sequence of a strain of hepatitis B virus, originally isolated from a naturally infected chimpanzee, has been determined. Interesting features of the sequence include the presence of an in-phase stop codon in the 'pre-core' region of the core antigen open reading frame. The sequence shows approximately 10% nucleotide divergence from all of the other hepatitis B virus sequences previously published and the possibility that this divergence is the result of passage through chimpanzees is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U.K.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaudin
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wolstenholme
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Tsiquaye
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; C024388:CTGCAG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific