Hepatitis type E virus (HEV) is a significant infectious zoonotic disease that causes hepatitis E. The disease is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route through contaminated water or food and is transmissible between species and genera. The causative agent for the disease is the hepatitis type E virus, which is a member of the Hepadnaviridae family and a single-stranded RNA virus. Its 7.2 kb genome mainly contains three open reading frames (ORFs): ORF1 encodes a non-structural polyprotein that mediates viral replication and transcription; ORF2 encodes a capsid protein and free antigen that induce neutralizing antibodies; ORF3 partially overlaps with ORF2 and encodes a small multifunctional protein involved in virion formation and release. HEV has a unique dual life cycle: it is excreted into feces in the form of naked virions but circulates in the blood in the form of "quasi-enveloped" particles. The two kinds of virus particles adsorb and penetrate the host cell in distinct ways, then internalize and decapsulate to replicate the genome, thereby producing more virion and releasing it outside the cell to mediate the virus's spread. This paper reviews the morphological characteristics, genome structure, encoded proteins, and function of HEV virus-like particles in order to provide a theoretical basis for basic research and comprehensive disease prevention and control.
Humans ; Hepatitis E virus/genetics* ; Hepatitis E

Hepatitis B ; genetics ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics

Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; genetics ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics

Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; genetics ; Humans ; Transcription, Genetic

Severe hepatitis B is an infectious disease which has high case fatality rate and is seriously harmful to human health. Its pathogenesis is complicated. In this article are reviewed the research reports on the virus and the host factors in the course of severe hepatitis B in recent years, including the advancement of researches on viral genotypes, viral mutations, immune responses and cytokines. These data are available for exploring the pathogenesis and for developing the clinical treatment of severe hepatitis B in future.
Animals ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation

Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genome, Viral ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans

Animals ; Genotype ; Hepatitis E ; veterinary ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal ; virology ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: To understand the infection of hepatitis B virus(HBV) in blood donors, and to evaluate the effectiveness and necessity of TMA technology for HBV-DNA screening in blood donors. METHODS: Using the ELISA/NAT model, routine serology test and NAT were performed in the 169 160 donors，including voluntary blood donors and some of donors returned to donor team. For some donors with test positive NAT, nucleic acid identification test was performed. And the HBsAg neutralized and confirmed assay would conduct in blood donors with unilateral HBsAg positive and HBV-DNA negative result. RESULTS: Among 169 160 donation cases-times, the donors of bilateral positive of HBsAg detection was 803, accounted for 0.476%; donors of unilateral positive was 243, accounted for 0.144%. For 40 specimens with HBV-DNA negative, unilateral HBsAg positive, the neutralization and confirmed assay was performed.In result, only 4 specimens were confirmed to be HBsAg positive, the confirmed positive rate was 10%. Among detected 1003 specimens with HBV-DNA positive specimens, both HBsAg and HBV-DNA positive were 739, the consistency rate between 2 kinds of detection was 73.7%. The comparision of positive rate detected by using 3 kinds of reagents showed that there were statistical differences (P＜0.05); moreover, there were statistical difference in positive rate detected by using Murex reagent and In Tec reagent (P＜0.0125). The comparison of detected rate of HBsAg and HBV-DNA during March 2016-February 2017 showed no statistical difference (P＞0.05). Among 60 blood donors with HBsAg and HBV-DNA who has retured to the donor team, 1 donor presented the transformation of HBsAg from negative to positive, suggesting the HBV infection of window period, HBsAg of the other 59 was negative. The detection of HBV-DNA showed that the HBV-DNA in 28 donors was negative, and the HBV-DNA in 31 donors was positive, 1 donor showed HBV-DNA was uncertain. CONCLUSION The routine TMA technology combined with ELISA HBsAg can effectively shorten the window period for detection of HBV infection, effectively detect the occult HBV infection, and reduce the potential risk of hepatitis B spread due to blood transfusion.
Blood Donors ; DNA, Viral ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of reentry in HBV reactive blood donors and feasibility of HBV reentry strategy. METHODS: HBsAg⁺ or HBV DNA⁺ donors who had been quarantined for more than 6 months in Jiangsu Province could propose for reentry application. Blood samples were routinely screened by dual-ELISA for HBsAg, anti-HCV, HIV Ab/Ag, and anti- Treponema pallidum and those non-reactive ones were tested by minipool nucleic acid testing (NAT) for three times. To identify occult HBV donors, samples of NAT non-reactive were further tested by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) for HBV seromarkers (including HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb). Donors of only 4 ECLIA patterns were accepted to reentry, including all 5 HBV seromarkers negative, anti-HBs only but having history of hepatitis B vaccine injection, HBcAb only, HBsAb⁺ / HBcAb⁺ with HBsAb more than 200 IU/L. Additionally, the detection rate of HBV infection was compared between routine screening mode and ECLIA, as well as the reentry qualified rate of HBsAg⁺ and HBV DNA⁺ blood donors. RESULTS: From Oct. 2016 to Aug. 2019, a total of 737 HBV reactive donors had applied for reentry, including 667 HBsAg⁺ reactive and 70 HBV DNA⁺ reactive donors. Among 3 screening methods, the highest HBV detection rate (43.15%, 318/737) was observed on ECLIA, while only 4.75% (35/737) on ELISA and 3.12% (23/737) on NAT, respectively. Among 4 qualified patterns of HBV serological markers, the highest proportion was found in the all negative group (22.90%, 155/677), followed by the group with HBsAb⁺ only and history of hepatitis B vaccine injection (19.35%, 131/677), and the median concentration of HBsAb was 237.7 IU/L. The unqualified rate of HBV DNA⁺ donors was 82.86%, which was significantly higher than 47.98% of HBsAg⁺ donors. CONCLUSION Routine screening tests merely based on ELISA and NAT could miss occult HBV donors and may not be sufficient for blood safety. HBsAb concentration and vaccine injection history should be included in the evaluation of HBV reactive donors who intend to apply for reentry. There is a relatively larger residual risk of occult HBV infection in blood donors quarantined for HBV DNA reactive.
Blood Donors ; DNA, Viral ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics* ; Humans

Alanine Transaminase ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy* ; Humans