title: Virology of hepatitis D virus.
abstract: Although much of the current understanding of the replication of hepatitis D virus (HDV) has been gained from ex vivo rather than in vivo studies, many seemingly unique aspects have been discovered. These include the ultra-small size and circular conformation of the RNA genome, the presence on the viral RNAs of two ribozymes, the role of RNA-directed RNA transcription by redirection of host enzymes, the requirement of site-specific, posttranscriptional RNA-editing, and more. This review addresses recent insights, remaining controversies, and just plain deficits in our understanding of HDV replication.
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. jm_taylor@fccc.edu
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000821:virology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014771:Virion; D053585:Virus Attachment; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; C442244:hepatitis delta virus large antigen