Delta agent: a unique hepatotropic particle.
The delta agent is a unique virus-like human pathogen that superinfects individuals with hepatitis B virus. It is a defective "particle" that requires for its replication and expression obligatory helper functions provided by the hepatitis B virus. It is transmitted through blood products and body fluids via both parenteral and non parental routes. The recent description of an accessible animal model and a nucleic acid probe for delta agent should facilitate elucidation of the pathogenesis of delta-associated liver disease.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000382:microbiology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal; D006801:Humans