Envelope Proteins Derived from Naturally Integrated Hepatitis B Virus DNA Support Assembly and Release of Infectious Hepatitis Delta Virus Particles
- Authors: Cunha C, Freitas N, Gudima SO, Menne S
- Publication Year: 2014
- Journal: Journal of Virology
- Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24623409
A natural subviral agent of human hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV), requires only the envelope proteins from HBV in order to maintain persistent infection. HBV surface antigens (HBsAgs) can be produced either by HBV replication or from integrated HBV DNA regardless of replication. The functional properties of the integrant-generated HBsAgs were examined using two human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell lines, Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5, that contain HBV integrants but do not produce HBV virions and have no signs of HBV replication.
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