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Journal of Virology, February 2005, p. 2221-2229, Vol. 79, No. 4
0022-538X/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JVI.79.4.2221-2229.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

RNA Recombination of Hepatitis Delta Virus in Natural Mixed-Genotype Infection and Transfected Cultured Cells

Tzu-Chi Wang1 and Mei Chao1*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-yang, Taiwan1

Received 25 March 2004/ Accepted 4 October 2004

Most RNA viruses encode their own RNA polymerases for genome replication, and increasing numbers of them appear to be capable of undergoing RNA recombination. Here, we provide the first report of intergenotypic recombination in hepatitis delta virus (HDV), the only animal RNA virus that requires host RNA polymerase(s) for viral replication. In vivo, we analyzed RNA species derived from the serum of a patient with mixed genotype I and genotype IIb HDV infection by using multiple restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays and sequence analysis of cloned reverse transcription (RT)-PCR products. Six HDV recombinants were isolated from 101 tested clones, and HDV recombination in this patient was further confirmed by RT-PCR with genotype-specific primer pairs. Analysis of the recombination junctions suggested that the HDV genome rearrangement occurred through faithful homologous recombination. We then used an RNA cotransfection cell culture system to investigate HDV RNA recombination in vitro. We found that HDV recombinants could indeed be detected in the transfected cells; some of these possessed recombination junctions identical to those identified in vivo. Furthermore, using a PCR-independent RNase protection assay, we were able to readily identify the recombined HDV RNA species in cultured cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that HDV RNA recombination occurs in both natural HDV infections and cultured cells, thereby presenting a novel mechanism for HDV evolution.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd., Kwei-Shan, Tao-yang 333, Taiwan. Phone: 886-3-211-8800, ext. 5134. Fax: 886-3-211-8956. E-mail: pa0728{at}mail.cgu.edu.tw.

Journal of Virology, February 2005, p. 2221-2229, Vol. 79, No. 4
0022-538X/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JVI.79.4.2221-2229.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Sztuba-Solinska, J., Bujarski, J. J. (2008). Insights into the Single-Cell Reproduction Cycle of Members of the Family Bromoviridae: Lessons from the Use of Protoplast Systems. J. Virol. 82: 10330-10340 [Full Text]  
  • Chang, J., Gudima, S. O., Taylor, J. M. (2005). Evolution of Hepatitis Delta Virus RNA Genome following Long-Term Replication in Cell Culture. J. Virol. 79: 13310-13316 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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