Deciphering the origin and evolution of Hepatitis B viruses by means of a family of non-enveloped fish viruses

Lauber, Chris, Seitz, Stefan, Mattei, Simone, Suh, Alexander ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8979-9992, Beck, Jürgen, Herstein, Jennifer, Börold, Jacob, Salzburger, Walter, Kaderali, Lars, Briggs, John A. G. and Bartenschlager, Ralf (2017) Deciphering the origin and evolution of Hepatitis B viruses by means of a family of non-enveloped fish viruses. Cell Host & Microbe, 22 (3). 387-399.e6. ISSN 1931-3128

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Abstract

Hepatitis B viruses (HBVs), which are enveloped viruses with reverse-transcribed DNA genomes, constitute the family Hepadnaviridae. An outstanding feature of HBVs is their streamlined genome organization with extensive gene overlap. Remarkably, the ∼1,100 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding the envelope proteins is fully nested within the ORF of the viral replicase P. Here, we report the discovery of a diversified family of fish viruses, designated nackednaviruses, which lack the envelope protein gene, but otherwise exhibit key characteristics of HBVs including genome replication via protein-primed reverse-transcription and utilization of structurally related capsids. Phylogenetic reconstruction indicates that these two virus families separated more than 400 million years ago before the rise of tetrapods. We show that HBVs are of ancient origin, descending from non-enveloped progenitors in fishes. Their envelope protein gene emerged de novo, leading to a major transition in viral lifestyle, followed by co-evolution with their hosts over geologic eras.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 11 Nov 2020 01:16
Last Modified: 22 Oct 2022 07:26
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/77628
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2017.07.019

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