title: Mutational modifications of hepatitis A virus proteins 2B and 2C described for cell culture-adapted and attenuated virus are present in wild-type virus populations.
abstract: Studies have identified certain mutations in the 2B and 2C proteins of hepatitis A virus (HAV) as being essential for efficient growth in cultured cells, and it is assumed that these mutations contribute to the attenuated phenotype. We found that mutations supporting cell culture growth already exist in wild-type HAV populations. This suggests that these variants are not entirely generated de novo but are selected from the wild-type population. In a prolonged case of hepatitis A, we found that sequences associated with cell culture adaptation predominated later in infection. This might suggest selection of an attenuated virus population during a prolonged clinical infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße/UFT, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weilandt
authors.forename: Dajana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paulmann
authors.forename: Kore
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schlottau
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallbracht
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dotzauer
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C116507:2B protein, hepatitis A virus; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C076023:2C protein, viral