title: Genetic variability of hepatitis A virus.
abstract: Knowledge of the molecular biology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) has increased exponentially since its identification. HAV exploits all known mechanisms of genetic variation to ensure survival, including mutation and genetic recombination. HAV has been characterized by the emergence of different genotypes, three human antigenic variants and only one major serotype. This paper reviews the genetic variability and molecular epidemiology of HAV. Its evolutionary mechanisms are described with particular emphasis on genetic recombination and HAV mutation rate. Genotypic classification methods are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa-Mattioli
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire et Structurale, CNRS, 1 Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Anna Di
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorie de Virologie UPRES-EA1156, Institut de Biologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Nantes, Rue Quai Moncousu 9, 44093 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.affiliation: Laboratorie de Virologie UPRES-EA1156, Institut de Biologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Nantes, Rue Quai Moncousu 9, 44093 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Billaudel
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire et Structurale, CNRS, 1 Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez-Bercoff
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Técnicas Nucleares Aplicadas, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Igua 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cristina
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology; D035921:Hepatitis A Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D035921:Hepatitis A Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral