title: A novel hepatovirus identified in wild woodchuck Marmota himalayana.
abstract: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a hepatotropic picornavirus that causes acute liver disease worldwide. Here, we report on the identification of a novel hepatovirus tentatively named Marmota Himalayana hepatovirus (MHHAV) in wild woodchucks (Marmota Himalayana) in China. The genomic and molecular characterization of MHHAV indicated that it is most closely related genetically to HAV. MHHAV has wide tissue distribution but shows tropism for the liver. The virus is morphologically and structurally similar to HAV. The pattern of its codon usage bias is also consistent with that of HAV. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that MHHAV groups with known HAVs but forms an independent branch, and represents a new species in the genus Hepatovirus within the family Picornaviridae. Antigenic site analysis suggested MHHAV has a new antigenic property to other HAVs. Further evolutionary analysis of MHHAV and primate HAVs led to a most recent common ancestor estimate of 1,000 years ago, while the common ancestor of all HAV-related viruses including phopivirus can be traced back to 1800 years ago. The discovery of MHHAV may provide new insights into the origin and evolution of HAV and a model system with which to explore the pathogenesis of HAV infection.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jie-mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li-li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Cui-yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Han-chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Guang-cheng
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-man
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li-li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jian-guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Center for Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: W Ian
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Lipkin
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001482:Base Composition; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003062:Codon; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D023281:Genomics; D005838:Genotype; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008392:Marmota / Q000821:virology*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D003062:Codon; D000939:Epitopes; D012367:RNA, Viral