title: Molecular cloning and expression of the hepatitis delta virus genotype IIb genome.
abstract: Analysis of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) genome sequences has revealed multiple genotypes with different geographical distributions and associated disease patterns. To date, replication-competent cDNA clones of HDV genotypes I, II, and III have been reported. HDV genotypes I, II, and IIb have been found in Taiwan. Although full-length sequences of genotype IIb have been published, its replication competence in cultured cells has yet to be reported. In order to examine this, we obtained a full-length cDNA clone, Taiwan-IIb-1, from a Taiwanese HDV genotype IIb isolate. Comparison of the complete nucleic acid sequence of Taiwan-IIb-1 with previously published genotype IIb isolates indicated that Taiwan-IIb-1 shares 98% identity with another Taiwanese isolate and 92% identity with a Japanese isolate. Transfection of Taiwan-IIb-1 into COS7 cells resulted in accumulation of the HDV genome and appearance of delta antigens, showing that cloned HDV genotype IIb can replicate in cultured cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-yang 333, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Chi
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019556:COS Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012313:RNA