Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
J Viral Hepat. 2019 Jan;26(1):183-190. doi: 10.1111/jvh.13010. Epub 2018 Oct 19.
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV), as a defective sub-virus that co-infects with hepatitis B virus, imposes an emerging global health burden. However, genetic characteristics and molecular classification of HDV remain under investigated. In this study, we have systematically retrieved and analysed a large set of HDV full-length genome sequences and identified novel recombinants. Based on phylogenetic and genetic analyses, we have established an updated classification system for HDV when recombinants were excluded. Furthermore, we have mapped the global distribution of different genotypes and subtypes. Finally, we have compiled a complete set of reference genomes for each subtype and proposed criteria for future identification of novel genotypes and subtypes. Of note, the global distribution map indicates that currently available HDV genetic data remain limited, and thus our proposed classification will likely evolve as future epidemiological data will accumulate. These results will facilitate the future research on the diagnosis, screening, epidemiology, evolution, prevention and clinical management of HDV infection.
丁型肝炎病毒(HDV)是一种缺陷亚病毒,与乙型肝炎病毒共同感染,给全球健康带来了新的负担。然而,HDV 的遗传特征和分子分类仍有待研究。在这项研究中,我们系统地检索和分析了大量的 HDV 全长基因组序列,并鉴定了新的重组体。基于系统发育和遗传分析,我们建立了一个排除重组体后的 HDV 最新分类系统。此外,我们绘制了不同基因型和亚型的全球分布图谱。最后,我们为每个亚型编制了完整的参考基因组,并提出了未来鉴定新基因型和亚型的标准。值得注意的是,全球分布图谱表明,目前可用的 HDV 遗传数据仍然有限,因此我们提出的分类可能会随着未来流行病学数据的积累而不断发展。这些结果将有助于未来对 HDV 感染的诊断、筛查、流行病学、进化、预防和临床管理的研究。