title: Characterization of a highly divergent TT virus genome.
abstract: A novel TT virus (TTV)-like DNA sequence was detected in the serum of a patient (PM) with acute non-A-E hepatitis. The full-length genome sequence, referred to here as PM virus (PMV), was obtained and its relationship to other full or near full-length TTV sequences examined. Although it shares a common genomic arrangement and short conserved regions, the majority of the genome is extremely divergent, displaying an average genetic distance of 0.60 from all other TTV sequences. By comparing PMV with TTV genomes representing the most divergent types so far described, six major groups can be distinguished. The level of genetic diversity seen between these genomes is higher than would be expected within a single virus species. Indeed, PMV could be considered the prototype of an independent taxonomic group within the Circoviridae: family. A genoprevalence study of sera from blood donors and patients with acute hepatitis suggests that PMV is rare.
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis and Retrovirus Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, UK1.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hallett
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis and Retrovirus Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, UK1.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Clewley
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis and Retrovirus Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, UK1.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bobet
authors.affiliation: The Liver Unit, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Whittal Street, Birmingham B4 6NH, UK2.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McKiernan
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis and Retrovirus Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, UK1.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Teo
mesh_terms: D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral