Genetic diversity and worldwide distribution of the deltavirus genus: A study of 2,152 clinical strains

• DOI: 10.1002/hep.29574
• Publication Date: 2017-10-09T17:26:38Z
• Authors: Frédéric Le Gal; Ségolène Brichler; Tudor Drugan; Chakib Alloui; Dominique Roulot; Jean‐Michel Pawlo...; Paul Dény; Emmanuel Gordien
• Keywords: Hepatitis D virus

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is responsible for the most severe form of acute and chronic viral hepatitis. We previously proposed that Deltavirus genus composed eight major clades. However, few sequences were available to confirm this classification. Moreover, little known about structural functional consequences HDV variability. One practical consequence failure quantification assays properly detect or quantify plasmatic RNA. Between 2001 2014, 2,152 strains prospectively collected genotyped in our reference laboratory by means nucleotide sequencing extensive phylogenetic analyses a 400‐nucleotide region genome ( R0 ) from nucleotides 889 1289 encompassing 3′ end protein–coding gene. In addition, full‐length sequence was generated 116 selected different clusters, allowing in‐depth characterization genotypes subgenotypes. This study confirms (HDV‐1 HDV‐8) defined an intergenotype similarity >85% >80%, according partial sequence, respectively. Furthermore, can be segregated into two four subgenotypes, characterized intersubgenotype >90% (>84% HDV‐1) over whole sequence. Systematic analysis protein revealed highly conserved amino acid motifs positions across all (sub)genotypes, indicating strong conservatory constraints on structure function protein. Conclusion: provides insight genetic diversity clear view its geographical localization allows speculation as worldwide spread virus, very likely initial African origin. (H epatology 2017;66:1826–1841)