Hepatitis Delta Virus

✍ Scribed by J. M. Taylor (auth.), John L. Casey Ph.D. (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 231
• Series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 307
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Since its discovery nearly 30 years ago, hepatitis delta virus (HDV) has continued to surprise and fascinate. At 1,680 nucleotides the HDV genome is the smallest known to infect man. It is unique among animal viruses, the closest known relatives being plant viroids. To compensate for its limited protein coding capacity, HDV relies heavily on host functions and on structural features of its circular RNA genome. HDV infection depends on hepatitis B virus as a helper, and increases the severity of liver disease caused by HBV alone. There is currently neither an effective HDV vaccine nor a generally accepted useful therapy for HDV infection. This volume encompasses recent developments in HDV research, from molecular virology to genetics to experimental investigation of new therapeutic and vaccine candidates.

✦ Table of Contents

Structure and Replication of Hepatitis Delta Virus RNA....Pages 1-23
HDV RNA Replication: Ancient Relic or Primer?....Pages 25-45
HDV Ribozymes....Pages 47-65
RNA Editing in Hepatitis Delta Virus....Pages 67-89
Post-translational Modification of Delta Antigen of Hepatitis D Virus....Pages 91-112
The Role of the HBV Envelope Proteins in the HDV Replication Cycle....Pages 113-131
Prenylation of HDAg and Antiviral Drug Development....Pages 133-149
Hepatitis Delta Virus Genetic Variability: From Genotypes I, II, III to Eight Major Clades?....Pages 151-171
Functional and Clinical Significance of Hepatitis D Virus Genotype II Infection....Pages 173-186
Immunology of HDV Infection....Pages 187-209
The Woodchuck Model of HDV Infection....Pages 211-225

✦ Subjects

Virology