Consensus proposals for classification of the family Hepeviridae

Abstract

The family Hepeviridae consists of positive-stranded RNA viruses that infect a wide range of mammalian species, as well as chickens and trout. A subset of these viruses infects humans and can cause a self-limiting acute hepatitis that may become chronic in immunosuppressed individuals. Current published descriptions of the taxonomical divisions within the family Hepeviridae are contradictory in relation to the assignment of species and genotypes. Through analysis of existing sequence information, we propose a taxonomic scheme in which the family is divided into the genera Orthohepevirus (all mammalian and avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolates) and Piscihepevirus (cutthroat trout virus). Species within the genus Orthohepevirus are designated Orthohepevirus A (isolates from human, pig, wild boar, deer, mongoose, rabbit and camel), Orthohepevirus B (isolates from chicken), Orthohepevirus C (isolates from rat, greater bandicoot, Asian musk shrew, ferret and mink) and Orthohepevirus D (isolates from bat). Proposals are also made for the designation of genotypes within the human and rat HEVs. This hierarchical system is congruent with hepevirus phylogeny, and the three classification levels (genus, species and genotype) are consistent with, and reflect discontinuities in the ranges of pairwise distances between amino acid sequences. Adoption of this system would include the avoidance of host names in taxonomic identifiers and provide a logical framework for the assignment of novel variants.

Hepatitis E virus replication and interferon responses in human placental cells

“…Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of viral hepatitis and is classified in the genus Orthohepevirus and the family Hepeviridae 1. Its genome contains a positive‐oriented single‐stranded RNA with three open reading frames (ORF), of which ORF1 encodes a multifunctional polyprotein involved in RNA replication, ORF2 the viral capsid protein, and ORF3 a nonstructural protein that can function as a viroporin 2, 3.…”

Hepatitis-E-Virus

“…Tab. 1) [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Kürzlich wurde in zwei Publikationen vorgeschlagen, die bisher molekular charakterisierten HEV taxonomisch neu einzuordnen [14,15].…”

“…In beiden Publikationen werden vergleichbare Verwandtschaftsbeziehungen der verschiedenen Isolate durch phylogenetische Analysen belegt. Wäh-rend Smith und Koautoren [14] die Hepeviridae in zwei Genera mit vier Spezies im Genus Orthohepevirus einteilen, wird von Johne und Koautoren [15] die Einteilung in fünf Genera bevorzugt (. Tab.…”

“…Tab. 1) [14,17,85]. Inwieweit HEV-5 und HEV-6 oder weitere damit eng verwandte HEV Menschen und andere Spezies infizieren kön-nen, sollte weiter untersucht werden [85].…”

“…Tab. 1) [14,18,[127][128][129] [135]. Inwieweit diese Annahme durch die Beobachtung unterstützt wird, dass HEV-C1 in humanen Zellen vermehrt werden kann, muss weiter untersucht werden [136].…”