Author/Editor		Meško, Karmen M; Poljak, Mario; Seme, Katja
Title		Hepatitis viruses - microbiological properties
Type		članek
Source		In: Ferlan-Marolt V, Luzar B, editors. Viral hepatitis. Proceedings of the 35th memorial meeting to professor Janez Plečnik with international participation; 2004 Dec 2-3; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Faculty of medicine, Institute of pathology,
Publication year		2004
Volume		str. 55-64
Language		eng
Abstract		Viral hepatitis is mainly caused by five viruses, named hepatitis A, B, C, D and E virus. Each hepatitis virus belongs to a different viral genus and family and has unigue microbiological properties. Hepatitis A virus is a nonenveloped single-stranded RNA virus with a diameter of 27 nm and icosahedric symmetry. It is classified in a separate genus Hepatovirus within the Picornaviridae family. Hepatitis B virus is an enveloped DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family, genus Orthohepadnavirus. The 42-nm spherical virion consists of an outer lipoprotein envelope that surrounds a 27-nm core containing a 3.2-kb partially double-stranded circular DNA. Hepatitis C virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family, genus Hepacivirus, and has a 50-60-nm spherical virion with spike-like projections. A lipoprotein envelope surrounds a putative 33-nm core that contains a 9.6-kb linear positive-sense single-stranded RNA molecule. Hepatitis D virus is a small defective virus recently classified within Deltavirus genus. The genome is a 1.7-kb circular negative-sense single-stranded RNA. Hepatitis D virus needs hepatitis B virus as a helper virus for its replication. Hepatitis E virus is a nonenveloped icosahedral virus with a diameter of 27-34 nm. The genome is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA molecule, app. 7.5 kb in length.
Descriptors		HEPATITIS, VIRAL, HUMAN HEPATITIS A VIRUS, HUMAN VIRUS REPLICATION HEPATITIS B VIRUS HEPATITIS C-LIKE VIRUSES DELTA AGENT HEPATITIS E VIRUS