The hepatitis delta (delta) virus possesses a circular RNA

Hepatitis delta (delta) virus (HDV), a satellite virus of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), causes a severe form of viral hepatitis in humans. Here we present evidence based on electron microscopy and electrophoretic behaviour that HDV contains a single stranded circular RNA molecule. This is the first animal virus identified with a circular RNA genome. Circular RNAs have only been found in plant viruses. We have obtained a partial complementary DNA clone representing approximately 25% of the total genome of HDV. Analysis of this cDNA revealed similarity to two plant viruses that may explain the origin of the virus.     

A conformational switch controls hepatitis delta virus ribozyme catalysis

Ribozymes enhance chemical reaction rates using many of the same catalytic strategies as protein enzymes. In the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme, site-specific self-cleavage of the viral RNA phosphodiester backbone requires both divalent cations and a cytidine nucleotide. General acid-base catalysis, substrate destabilization and global and local conformational changes have all been proposed to contribute to the ribozyme catalytic mechanism. Here we report ten crystal structures of the HDV ribozyme in its pre-cleaved state, showing that cytidine is positioned to activate the 2'-OH nucleophile in the precursor structure. This observation supports its proposed role as a general base in the reaction mechanism. Comparison of crystal structures of the ribozyme in the pre- and post-cleavage states reveals a significant conformational change in the RNA after cleavage and that a catalytically critical divalent metal ion from the active site is ejected. The HDV ribozyme has remarkable chemical similarity to protein ribonucleases and to zymogens for which conformational dynamics are integral to biological activity. This finding implies that RNA structural rearrangements control the reactivity of ribozymes and ribonucleoprotein enzymes.     

吉林地区病毒性肝炎分型分析

目的 了解吉林地区病毒性肝炎的型别分布及感染状况．方法 采用ELlSA法检测．结果 男性检出39例，女性检出21例，检出HAV23例，占38％；HBV25例，占42％，NCV6例，占10％；HVD未检出，HEV4例，占7％，HGV2例，占3％．乙型肝炎检出率最高，其次为甲型肝炎、丙型肝炎、戊型肝炎、庚型肝炎．丁型肝炎检出率为0．单纯感染56例；1例甲、丙、庚三重感染，1例为甲、乙二重感染．结论 甲、乙型肝炎仍为吉林地区人群感染的主要病原．     

Structure, sequence and expression of the hepatitis delta (delta) viral genome

Biochemical and electron microscopic data indicate that the human hepatitis delta viral agent contains a covalently closed circular and single-stranded RNA genome that has certain similarities with viroid-like agents from plants. The sequence of the viral genome (1,678 nucleotides) has been determined and an open reading frame within the complementary strand has been shown to encode an antigen that binds specifically to antisera from patients with chronic hepatitis delta viral infections.     

Folding Kinetics of HDV Ribozyme with C13A:G82U and A16U:U79A Mutations

Gene mutations influence the folding kinetics of hepatitis delta virus(HDV) ribozyme. In this work, we study the effect of the double mutation on the folding kinetics of HDV ribozyme. By using the master equation method combined with RNA folding free energy landscape, we predict the folding kinetics of C13A:G82U and A16U:U79A mutated HDV sequences. Their folding pathways are identified by recursively searching the states with high net flux-in(out) population starting from the native state. The results indicate that the folding kinetics of C13A:G82U mutation sequence is bi-phasic, which is similar to the wild type(wt HDV) sequence. While the folding kinetics of A16U:U79A mutation sequence is mono-phasic, it quickly folds to the native state in 30 s. Thus, the folding kinetics of double mutated HDV ribozyme depends on the mutation sites.     

维持血透患者庚型肝炎病毒感染的临床研究

研究血液净化中心维持血液透析患者庚型肝炎病毒（ＨＧＶ） 感染率、影响因素和临床特点．应用反转录聚合酶链反应法（ＲＴＰＣＲ） ,检测了１４９ 例维持血透患者ＨＧＶ 感染情况．维持血透患者ＨＧＶＲＮＡ 阳性率为４ ．７ ％ ,与ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阴性患者相比,两组在人口统计学资料、维持透析时间、输血量、合并ＨＢＶ 和ＨＣＶ 感染率及肝脏酶谱等方面无统计学差异．维持血透患者ＨＧＶ 感染率高于普通人群,但无明显肝损害表现     

A pseudoknot-like structure required for efficient self-cleavage of hepatitis delta virus RNA

Hepatitis delta virus genomic and antigenomic RNAs contain a self-cleavage site hypothesized to function in processing the viral RNA during replication. Self-cleavage requires only a divalent cation and is mediated at the genomic site by a sequence of less than 85 nucleotides. We propose that the genomic self-cleaving sequence element and a corresponding sequence from the anti-genomic RNA could generate related secondary structures. The region of the antigenomic sequence, predicted from the proposed structure, was synthesized and shown to be sufficient for self-cleavage. Evidence for two stems which form a tertiary interaction was obtained by site-specific mutagenesis of the antigenomic sequence. Efficient self-cleavage in 10 M formamide or 5 M urea, also a property of the genomic sequence, was dependent on base-pairing in both stems. But in the absence of denaturants, the stem distal to the site of cleavage was not required, suggesting that the tertiary interaction stabilizes the structure required for self-cleavage.     

人类乙型肝炎样病毒Pre—S1包膜蛋白的一个特定区域为乙肝病毒形成所必需

土拨鼠肝炎病毒（WHV）是一种哺乳类动物的肝炎病毒．这种病毒在结构和抗原怕与人类乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）非常相似．以往的研究报告指出,在一种称为鸭乙型肝炎病毒（DHBV）的Pre－S包膜蛋白中,含有一个特定区域．这一区域由天冬氨酸－天冬氨酸－脯氨酸－亮氨酸－亮氨酸（DDPLL）5个氨基酸残基所组成．已发现,这一区域在像DHBV这一类禽类乙肝病毒的病毒装配和分泌时所必需的（LenhoffR,SummersJ．JVirol,1994,68：4565～4571）．在WHV的Pre－S包胰蛋白中第201个氨基酸到第205个氨基酸所包含的顺序,甘氨酸－天冬氨酸－脯氨…     

Human hepatitis B vaccine from recombinant yeast

The worldwide importance of human hepatitis B virus infection and the toll it takes in chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma, make it imperative that a vaccine be developed for worldwide application. Human hepatitis B vaccines are presently prepared using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) that is purified from the plasma of human carriers of hepatitis B virus infection. The preparation of hepatitis B vaccine from a human source is restricted by the available supply of infected human plasma and by the need to apply stringent processes that purify the antigen and render it free of infectious hepatitis B virus and other possible living agents that might be present in the plasma. Joint efforts between our laboratories and those of Drs W. Rutter and B. Hall led to the preparation of vectors carrying the DNA sequence for HBsAg and antigen expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we describe the development of hepatitis B vaccine of yeast cell origin. HBsAg of subtype adw was produced in recombinant yeast cell culture, and the purified antigen in alum formulation stimulated production of antibody in mice, grivet monkeys and chimpanzees. Vaccinated chimpanzees were totally protected when challenged intravenously with either homologous or heterologous subtype adr and ayw virus of human serum source. This is the first example of a vaccine produced from recombinant cells which is effective against a human viral infection.     

慢性乙型肝炎临床治疗的现状与挑战

 病毒本身和机体免疫应答是影响HBV感染病情进展和临床转归的重要因素。目前免疫学研究及临床观察结果表明,单纯的抗病毒治疗无法重建慢性乙型肝炎患者的抗病毒免疫功能,因而无法彻底治愈HBV感染。联合新的免疫治疗策略,根据疾病的不同阶段采取针对性的治疗方案,可能是实现HBV感染治愈的有效方法。本文综述慢性乙型肝炎治疗的现状与进展。     

反向线性探针杂交技术检测慢性乙型肝炎病毒拉米夫定耐药研究

目的:建立起简单、快速、灵敏、准确的慢性乙型肝炎病毒拉米夫定耐药位点的反向线性探针(reverse line probe,RLP)检测方法.方法:根据HBV野生及耐药基因序列设计通用探针、3'、5'对称加有poly-C的特异性探针和5'标记生物素的扩增引物.将探针线性固定在硝酸纤维膜上,使HBV PCR扩增产物与探针进行杂交.通过优化杂交条件,建立RLP检测方法.利用该方法对重庆地区86个慢性乙肝病人进行检测,同时与直接测序结果比较.结果:半巢式PCR可对103拷贝/ml的血清样本进行有效特异扩增,新建的RLP检测方法可对PCR扩增产物在1 ng/ml以上,或血清样本中突变型DNA占野生型DNA比例为5％以上的均可有效检测,86例临床的检测灵敏度为100％,野生型和耐药型的检测准确性分别为98.09％(103/105)、100％ (43/43),与直接测序法比,RLP检测野生与耐药混合型准确性更好.结论:反向线性探针杂交检测方法检测HBV拉米夫定耐药位点方便、灵敏、准确,是HBV拉米夫定治疗有效的监控工具,该方法适合临床应用.     

Hepatitis B virus integration in a cyclin A gene in a hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA frequently integrates into the genome of human primary liver cancer cells, but the significance of this integration in liver carcinogenesis is still unclear. Here we report the cloning of a single HBV integration site in a human hepatocellular carcinoma at an early stage of development, and of its germline counterpart. The normal locus was found to be transcribed into two polyadenylated messenger RNA species of 1.8 and 2.7 kilobases. We have isolated a complementary DNA clone from a normal adult human liver cDNA library which has an open reading frame with a coding capacity for a protein of 432 amino acids and relative molecular mass 48,536. The strong homology of the C-terminal half of the protein to the A-type cyclins of clam and Drosophila identifies it as a human cyclin A. The cyclin A gene has several exons, and the HBV integration occurs within an intron. As cyclins are important in the control of cell division, the disruption of a cyclin A gene by viral insertion might contribute to tumorigenesis.     

拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎的研究进展

目的:介绍拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎的进展概况。方法:查阅、分析、归纳有关文献。结果:拉米夫定能明显控制HBVDNA复制,血清谷丙转氨酶恢复正常,减少慢性乙型肝炎的反复复发。结论:拉米夫定是新一代核苷类抗乙肝病毒药物,可通过降低乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)依赖RNA的DNA多聚酶生物活性,明显抑制HBVDNA的合成,是治疗慢性乙型肝炎的新选择。     

RNA interference-mediated inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus replication

Persistent and recurrent infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) represents one of the most common and severe viral infections of humans, and has caused a formidable health problem in the affected countries. Currently used antiviral drugs have a very limited success on controlling HBV replication and infection. RNA interference (RNAi), a process by which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) directs sequence-specific degradation of target mRNA in mammalian and plant cells, has recently been used to knockdown gene expression in various species. In this study, we sought to determine whether RNAi-mediated silencing of HBV viral gene expression could lead to the effective inhibition of HBV replication. We first developed RNAi vectors that expressed small interfering RNA (siRNA) and targeted the HBV core or surface gene sequence. Our results demonstrated that these specific siRNAs efficiently reduced the levels of corresponding viral RNAs and proteins, and thus suppressed viral replication. Treatment with siRNA gave the greatest reduction in the levels of HBsAg (92%) and in HBeAg (85%) respectively in the cultured cell medium. Our findings further demonstrated that the RNAi-mediated antiviral effect was sequence-specific and dose-dependent. Therefore, our findings strongly suggest that RNAi-mediated silencing of HBV viral genes could effectively inhibit the replication of HBV, hence RNAi-based strategy should be further explored as a more efficacious antiviral therapy of HBV infection.     

Controlled synthesis of HBsAg in a differentiated human liver carcinoma-derived cell line.

A significant aspect of primary hepatic carcinoma in man is the high positive correlation of hepatocellular carcinoma with infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV)1. Analysis of the relationship between HBV infection and oncogenesis is difficult because natural infection with HBV is limited to man and experimental infection has been achieved only in chimpanzees and gibbons. Furthermore, because HBV has not been successfully propagated in cell culture, basic study of virus-cell interaction of the aetiological agent of one of the most widespread infections of man has been impossible. Recently, however, a cell line (PLC/PRF/5) derived from a human hepatoma biopsy was described which produces the HRV surface antigen (HBsAg) and so provides a tool for the experimental investigation of HBV in viro. We now report the derivation and characterisation of two additional cell lines primary liver carcinomas. In contrast to the PLC/PRF/5 cell line, these cell lines retain the capacity to synthesise many human plasma proteins, including both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). One of these lines also produces BHsAg. We also present evidence that HBsAg synthesis and secretion in this cell line are correlated with the growth state of the culture. This finding is in contrast to the continuous HBsAg production found in the PLC/PRF/5 cell line.     

乙型肝炎病毒蛋白及COX-2在乙肝相关性肝细胞癌发展与转移中的作用机制

目的探讨乙型肝炎病毒蛋白及环氧合酶-2(COX-2)在乙肝相关性肝细胞癌发展与转移中的作用机制.方法取42例慢性乙肝患者行穿刺活检时乙型肝炎病毒ccc DNA为阳性乙肝相关性肝细胞癌组织;另取同期手术切除的11例ccc DNA为阴性的非乙型肝炎相关性肝癌组织.免疫组化法检测乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白、COX-2、CD34的表达水平,Werdner法计算微血管密度;分析上述因子与乙肝相关性肝细胞癌组织微血管生成的相关性.RT-PCR和Western blot检测人肝癌细胞系(HepG2)和稳定转染乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HepG2-X)细胞中COX-2mRNA和蛋白表达情况;ELISA法检测细胞上清液中PGE2表达水平和不同浓度COX-2抑制剂塞来昔布作用后PGE2水平.结果乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阳性表达组织中COX-2阳性率明显高于乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阴性表达组织和非乙型肝炎相关性肝癌组织(P0.01).乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阳性表达组织中早期癌症微血管密度明显低于进展期癌症组织,乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阴性表达组织中微血管密度明显低于阳性表达组织(P0.01);COX-2阳性表达组织中微血管密度明显高于COX-2阴性表达组织(P0.01);非乙型肝炎相关性肝癌组织中微血管密度明显低于乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白、COX-2阳性表达组织(P0.01),与乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白阴性表达组织和COX-2阴性表达组织之间差异无统计学意义(P0.05);乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白、COX-2在乙型肝炎相关性人肝细胞癌组织微血管生成呈正相关.HepG2-X细胞中COX-2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平明显高于空载体对照HepG2细胞,并且细胞培养上清液中PGE2水平明显增加;与HepG2细胞相比,塞来昔布对HepG2-X细胞分泌PGE2具有更强的抑制作用.结论乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白、COX-2在乙肝相关性肝细胞癌组织中高表达,促进了癌组织微血管生成;乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白可通过COX-2/PEG2信号通路促进了肝癌的发生和发展.