CURRENT PERSPECTIVES IN THE VIROLOGY AND MOLECULAR-BIOLOGY OF HEPATITIS-A VIRUS

Several unique features of hepatitis A virus (HAV) support its classification within a new genus, hepatovirus, of the family Picornaviridae. The structure of the HAV capsid may differ from other picornaviruses as indirect evidence suggests the absence of a myristylated VP4 protein. The replication of HAV is unusually slow in cell culture and typically results in persistent infection. Other evidence suggests fundamental differences between HAV and other picornaviruses with respect to viral translation, polyprotein processing and RNA replication. © 1993 Academic Press. All rights reserved.