title: Discovery of a Novel Hepatovirus (Phopivirus of Seals) Related to Human Hepatitis A Virus.
abstract: Describing the viral diversity of wildlife can provide interesting and useful insights into the natural history of established human pathogens. In this study, we describe a previously unknown picornavirus in harbor seals (tentatively named phopivirus) that is related to human hepatitis A virus (HAV). We show that phopivirus shares several genetic and phenotypic characteristics with HAV, including phylogenetic relatedness across the genome, a specific and seemingly quiescent tropism for hepatocytes, structural conservation in a key functional region of the type III internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), and a codon usage bias consistent with that of HAV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an important viral hepatitis in humans because of the substantial number of cases each year in regions with low socioeconomic status. The origin of HAV is unknown, and no nonprimate HAV-like viruses have been described. Here, we describe the discovery of an HAV-like virus in seals. This finding suggests that the diversity and evolutionary history of these viruses might be far greater than previously thought and may provide insight into the origin and pathogenicity of HAV.
authors: Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA EcoHealth Alliance, New York, New York, USA sja2127@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Anthony
authors: Department of Pathology and Research, SeaWorld Parks, San Diego, California, USA.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: St Leger
authors: Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA EcoHealth Alliance, New York, New York, USA.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Liang
authors: Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors: A L
authors: AL
authors: Hicks
authors: Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Sanchez-Leon
authors: Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Jain
authors: Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Lefkowitch
authors: Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Navarrete-Macias
authors: The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Knowles
authors: One Health Institute & Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Goldstein
authors: New England Aquarium, Marine Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Department, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Pugliares
authors: United States Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors: H S
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4844-7533
authors: HS
authors: Ip
authors: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Rowles
authors: Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors: W I
authors: WI
authors: Lipkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003062:Codon; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000821:virology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D012367:RNA, Viral