Hepatitis E virus

Hepatitis E virus
TEM micrograph of hepatitis E virions.
Virus classification
Group: Group IV ((+)ssRNA)
Order: Unassigned
Family: Hepeviridae
Genus: Orthohepevirus
Species: Orthohepevirus A
Synonyms
  • Hepatitis E virus

The Hepatitis E virus is the causative agent of Hepatitis E. Its taxonomic name is Orthohepevirus A.

Virology

The viral particles are 27 to 34 nanometers in diameter, are non-enveloped and contain a single-strand of positive-sense RNA that is approximately 7300 bases in length. The virus particle was first visualised in 1983[1] but was only molecularly cloned in 1990.[2]

Taxonomy

It was previously classified in the Caliciviridae family. However, its genome more closely resembles the rubella virus. It is now classified as a member of the genus Orthohepevirus in the Hepeviridae family.[3]

References

  1. Balayan MS, Andjaparidze AG, Savinskaya SS, et al. (1983). "Evidence for a virus in non-A, non-B hepatitis transmitted via the fecal-oral route". Intervirology 20 (1): 23–31. doi:10.1159/000149370. PMID 6409836.
  2. Reyes GR, Purdy MA, Kim JP, et al. (1990). "Isolation of a cDNA from the virus responsible for enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis". Science 247 (4948): 1335–9. doi:10.1126/science.2107574. PMID 2107574.
  3. "ICTV Virus Taxonomy: 2009 release". Retrieved 2011-12-02.

External links

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