Cloned HBV DNA causes hepatitis in chimpanzees

Hans Will, Roberto Cattaneo, Hans Georg Koch, Gholamreza Darai, Heinz Schaller, Hǔub Schellekens, Peer M.C.A. Van Eerd, Friedrich Deinhardt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

92 Scopus citations

Abstract

Most of our knowledge of the structure and function of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome comes from the analysis of the viral DNA sequences cloned in bacteria1-3. Because the physical state of cloned HBV DNA differs from HBV DNA encapsidated in the virion - for example, it lacks the nick-gap structure4, and a covalently linked protein5 - the question arises as to whether it can initiate HBV replication in vitro 6 or in vivo. We describe here the development of typical acute viral hepatitis, and the detection of HBV-specific DNA sequences in the serum and liver, in a chimpanzee inoculated with cloned HBV DNA. This demonstrates that neither the virion proteins nor the nick-gap structure of the virion DNA are needed for the initiation of replication of HBV in vivo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)740-742
Number of pages3
JournalNature
Volume299
Issue number5885
DOIs
StatePublished - 1982

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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