Genetic characterization and codon usage bias of full-length Hepatitis E virus sequences shed new lights on genotypic distribution,host restriction and genome evolution

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is present in different species and ecological niches. It has been divided into 4 major mammalian genotypes. In this study, 3 new full-length genomes of swine HEV were sequenced and the results did not reveal any particular host determinant in comparison with human isolates belonging to the same genotype. Nucleotide composition and codon usage bias were determined to characterize HEV host restriction and genome evolution. Peculiar nucleotide bias was observed for A and C nucleotides in all HEV genotypes. Apart from the ORF1 hypervariable region and the ORF2/3 overlapping region, no nucleotide bias was observed between the 3 codon positions. CpG dinucleotides were also shown to be under-represented in HEV as in most RNA viruses. The effective number of codon used in HEV genome was high, indicating a lack of codon bias. Correspondence analysis of the relative synonymous codon usage was performed and demonstrated that evolution of HEV is not driven by geographical or host factors, but is representative of HEV phylogeny. These results confirm that HEV genome evolution is mainly based on mutational pressure. Natural selection, for instance involving fine-tuning translation kinetics and escape from the host immune system, may also play a role in shaping the HEV genome, particularly in the ORF1 hypervariable region and the ORF2/3 overlapping region. These regions might be involved in host restriction. Finally this study revealed the need to re-evaluate the possible subtyping classification.     

Phylogenetic analysis of 626 hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolates from humans and animals in China (1986-2011) showing genotype diversity and zoonotic transmission

Hepatitis E is considered as a public health problem in China. To determine the overall molecular epidemiology of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and analyze the situation of cross-species transmission between humans and swine in China over the last 25 years (1986-2011), 626 HEV complete and partial sequences (89 isolates identified by our group) isolated from humans and animals in China were retrieved from GenBank and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. There were three genotypes and 11 sub-genotypes of HEV prevailing in China. Furthermore, rabbit HEVs, of which the genotype is controversial, are also widespread in China. Genotype 1 was the most isolated genotype prior to 2000 and mainly detected in Xinjiang, Beijing and East China. However, genotype 4, which was identified in most regions of China during the last 10 years, has overtaken genotype 1 in frequency of isolation nationwide. Genotype 3 HEV strains have been found only in eastern China and were thought to be imported from Japan. Both genotypes 3 and 4 were found in humans and swine and cross-species transmission from pigs to humans of the two genotypes may have occurred in Northeast, Northwest, North, East and South China. These results indicate that HEV strains with considerable genetic diversity are widespread and the zoonotic transmission between swine and humans appears ubiquitous in China.     

新疆猪戊型肝炎病毒株CHN-XJ-SW33全基因组序列分析

目的测定从新疆南部地区分离的猪戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)株全基因组序列,并在此基础上分析猪HEV与人源HEV的关系。方法设计HEV基因4型通用PCR引物,用逆转录巢式聚合酶链反应法(RT-nPCR)分段扩增猪HEV株CHN-XJ-SW33的全基因组序列;用cDNA末端快速扩增法(RACE)扩增其末端序列;对扩增的目的片段进行克隆测序,并对拼接后的基因组进行序列比对和进化分析。结果除3′poly(A)尾外,CHN-XJ-SW33基因组全长为7 238 nt,由3个开放读码框(ORF1-3)组成,分别编码1 706、674和114个氨基酸。CHN-XJ-SW33全基因组序列与HEV基因1-3型病毒株同源性仅为72.1%~74.9%,而与HEV基因4型病毒株同源性高达82.8%~95.5%,其中与日本人源中国输入型HEV株JKO-ChiSai98C同源性最高,为95.5%。基因进化分析显示,CHN-XJ-SW33属于HEV4a基因亚型。结论猪HEV与人HEV在全基因组核苷酸序列上高度同源,提示基因4型HEV可能由猪传染给人。     

Genetic host specificity of hepatitis E virus

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes epidemic and sporadic cases of hepatitis worldwide. HEV genotypes 3 (HEV3) and 4 (HEV4) infect humans and animals, with swine being the primary reservoir. The relevance of HEV genetic diversity to host adaptation is poorly understood. We employed a Bayesian network (BN) analysis of HEV3 and HEV4 to detect epistatic connectivity among protein sites and its association with the host specificity in each genotype. The data imply coevolution among ∼70% of polymorphic sites from all HEV proteins and association of numerous coevolving sites with adaptation to swine or humans. BN models for individual proteins and domains of the nonstructural polyprotein detected the host origin of HEV strains with accuracy of 74–93% and 63–87%, respectively. These findings, taken together with lack of phylogenetic association to host, suggest that the HEV host specificity is a heritable and convergent phenotypic trait achievable through variety of genetic pathways (abundance), and explain a broad host range for HEV3 and HEV4.     

Genotype analysis of hepatitis E virus from sporadic hepatitis E cases in northern China

Hepatitis E is an important public health problem in many countries. However, there is no definite conclusion about the zoonotic reservoir, transmission patterns and risk factors of hepatitis E in the human population. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological and viral genotype characteristics of hepatitis E cases in northern China. Surveillance was conducted in two hospitals in Liaoning and Hebei province from July 2010 to June 2012. Out of a total of 116 diagnosed patients, 88 (75.9%) were male and 28 (24.1%) were female and most (73%) were in the age group 40–70 years. In both hospitals, cases were diagnosed more frequently in March than in other months. HEV RNA was amplified from 41 patients and characterized by nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Most of the isolates (37 strains, 90.3%) were genotype 4, including subgenotypes 4a, 4b, 4d, 4h, 4i and a new subgenotype. One subgenotype 3a strain was isolated from Baoding, Hebei province. Three genotype 1b strains were found from patients in Jinzhou, Liaoning province. Most of the genotype 4 strains and the genotype 3 strains were phylogenetically related to known swine isolates. In conclusion, the finding that HEV infects mostly middle-aged and elderly men and that the incidence spiked in March may reflect the zoonotic transmission characteristics of HEV infection. Pigs, but not rabbits, were the important reservoirs in this area, because genotype 4 HEV was found to be responsible for the majority hepatitis E cases. However, genotype 1 is still present in northern China. Also, the first isolation of genotype 3 HEV in this area indicates that alternative routes of HEV transmission might exist.     

中国部分地区猪胆汁戊型肝炎病毒基因型和中和抗原位点变异研究

目的调查猪胆汁戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)携带率、基因型和中和抗原位点变异。方法在中国4个地区屠宰场采集成年商品猪的胆汁标本,采用real-time RT-PCR检测HEV RNA;采用巢式RT-PCR扩增HEV ORF2区部分基因片段,进行基因分型和中和抗原位点氨基酸序列分析。结果猪胆汁标本HEV RNA总阳性率为8.6%(46/532),4个地区阳性率在3.0%-12.5%之间。19株HEV基因分型成功,均为基因4型,其中11株HEV基因亚型分型成功,均为4a亚型。在该11株HEV的21个中和抗原位点中,2株HEV在ORF2区分别发生第487位氨基酸突变(Ser487Tyr)和第564位氨基酸突变(Thr564Pro)。结论中国部分地区猪胆汁HEV携带率较高,为中国人群中优势流行的基因4型,且部分中和抗原位点发生突变;应加强猪群HEV的持续监测。     

北京市郊区八种动物戊型肝炎病毒抗体流行率调查及病毒基因型研究

目的 调查北京地区与人密切接触的猪、牛、羊、马、驴、犬、鸡、鸭8种动物血清中戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)抗体流行率及该地区猪HEV基因型和亚型.方法 收集8种动物的血清标本及幼猪粪便标本,用双抗原夹心ELISA法检测血清中抗-HEV;用巢式反转录聚合酶链反应法(RT-nPCR)检测HEV RNA;对部分PCR产物进行克隆和测序,并对测序结果进行基因分型.结果 在8种动物中抗-HEV阳性率分别为猪80.43%(481/598),其中成猪(>6月龄)为87.86%(369/420),幼猪(2～3月龄)为62.92%(112/178);牛15.02%(52/346);马14.29%(40/280);驴0(0/26);羊9.88%(33/334);犬0(0/21);鸭3.03%(7/231);鸡2.53%(8/316).RT-nPCR检测3月龄以下猪粪便标本HEVRNA阳性率为66.67%(74/111).HEV RNA阳性的标本测序后可归为6株(分别命名为bjsw1、bjsw2、bjsw3、bjsw4、bjsw5和bjsw6),6株HEV开放读码框2(ORF2)部分核苷酸序列的相似性为94.5%～99.6%,与1、2、3、4型HEV的相似性分别为75.6%～78.6%、75.6%～76.2%、77.1%～80.7%和83.7%～94.5%.6株HEV与人HEV 4d亚型的同源性最高,为90.0%～94.5%.结论 北京市郊区猪、牛、马、羊、鸭、鸡中均存在HEV感染,其中猪抗-HEV流行率最高,驴、犬抗-HEV的流行率最低;6株猪HEV属于基因4型、4d亚型.     

Comparison of hepatitis E virus genotypes from rabbits and pigs in the same geographic area: No evidence of natural cross-species transmission between the two animals

Domesticated pigs have been shown to be a reservoir of genotypes 3 and 4 hepatitis E virus (HEV). Farmed rabbits were recently recognized as the host of a novel virus, rabbit HEV. In order to determine whether HEV is transmitted naturally between rabbits and pigs, a survey on HEV infections was conducted in rabbits and pigs aged 2–4 months from rabbit and pig farms located near to each other in nine villages in three counties of Hebei Province, China. The overall anti-HEV antibody positivity rates in serum samples of swine and rabbits were 61.7% (58/94) and 23.2% (67/289), and the positive rates for HEV RNA were 23.4% (22/94) and 10% (29/289), respectively. In addition, 37 of 125 swine fecal samples (29.6%) were HEV RNA positive. The nucleotide sequences of a 304 bp region within HEV ORF2 have identity ranging from 84.5% to 100% among the rabbit isolates and from 82.3% to 100% among the swine isolates. In contrast, the nucleotide identity between the two species groups was only 72–76.6%. Consequently, the two groups were clearly separated in the phylogenetic tree that showed all of the rabbit isolates are closely related to the rabbit HEV reported recently and the swine isolates belong to genotype 4, including subgenotypes 4a, 4c and 4d. The results showed that HEV is highly prevalent in farmed rabbits and pigs in these areas. However, genotype 4 HEV and rabbit HEV are circulating separately in pigs and rabbits in the same area. In conclusion, there was no evidence of cross-species transmission of HEV between pigs and rabbits. The frequency of HEV transmission events between these two animal species is likely low in commercial farms.     

山东省某地屠宰场猪肝内戊型肝炎病毒感染状况研究

目的研究商品猪肝脏内戊型肝炎（戊肝）病毒（HEV）的检出状况及其基因分型。方法采集35份山东省某个人屠宰场和某城镇大型屠宰场内的猪肝，处理后采用逆转录．巢式聚合酶链反应（nested RT·PCR）方法检测HEV RNA。并与GenBank中登录的HEV全长序列进行同源性分析。结果35份猪肝标本中共有3份检出HEVRNA，阳性率为8．57％。同源性分析显示这3株病毒均为Ⅳ型HEV。结论即将上市的商品猪肝脏内存在HEV感染，其基因型与中国大陆HEV流行株相同，均为基因Ⅳ型。     

Analysis of the complete genome sequences of one swine and two human hepatitis E virus genotype 4 strains isolated in Beijing,China

Full-length sequences were determined and analyzed for two human (MO and W3) and one swine (W2–5) hepatitis E virus (HEV) isolates from Beijing, China. The genomes of the three strains were composed of 7242, 7239, 7239 nucleotides, respectively, excluding the poly (A) tails, and were 84% identical to each other. All were classified into genotype 4. Sequence analysis shows that the 2 human isolates have up to 91–94% nucleotide identity in full length genome with swine strains isolated in China, while the swine isolate share 92% identity with the human strain T1 from Beijing. At the amino acid level, the three strains share 94%, 97% and 89–92% identity in the ORF1, ORF2 and ORF3, proteins respectively. The human strains MO and W3 have the highest identity, 97%, 98–99% and 96–98% in ORFs 1–3, respectively, to swine strains CHN-XJ-SW13 and CHN-XJ-SW33 from Xinjiang, China, while swine strain W2–5 has highest identity with the human strain HE-JA2, 96%, 99% and 91% in ORFs 1–3, respectively. Genotype specific amino acid substitutions were found at a single site in all three ORFs by sequences alignment, and genotype specific short sequences (5–10aa in length) were found in ORF1 and the C-terminus of ORF3. However, no difference was found at any amino acid position that discriminates between human and swine HEVs within genotype 4 for any of the three ORFs. These results indicated that the genotype 4 HEV strains from humans and pigs in China may evolve from the common ancestor.     

Identification of a zoonotic genotype 3 hepatitis E subtype in wildlife in north-eastern Italy

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonosis caused by a positive RNA single stranded virus of the Hepeviridae family. In developed countries, pigs and wild boars are the main reservoir for zoonotic genotypes 3 and 4. In spring 2017, for the first time HEV was detected in wild boars captured in the Regional Park of the Euganean Hills, in north-eastern Italy. Phylogenetic analysis of two complete viral genomes and seven partial ORF1 and ORF2 sequences of HEV viruses, selected from twelve positive animals, showed that the viruses grouped together within genotype 3 but clustered separately from previously identified subtypes, thus suggesting the identification of a novel genotype 3 subtype. The phylogenetic analysis of nine partial ORF2 sequences showed the closest similarity with wild boar/human viruses identified in central-northern Italy in 2012. The circulation of HEVs in this area, characterized by a vast man-made environment, an overpopulation of wild boars and >150 swine farms, should be considered in a public health perspective. Further investigations at the wild/domestic species and human interface are therefore necessary to gain a deeper understanding of HEV dynamics.     

Virulent Strain of Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3, Japan

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3, which usually causes asymptomatic infection in Japan, induced severe hepatitis in 8 patients. To better understand genetic features of HEV associated with increased virulence, we determined the complete or near-complete nucleotide sequences of HEV from these 8 patients and from 5 swine infected with genotype 3 strain swJ19. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolates from the 8 patients and the 5 swine grouped separately from the other genotype 3 isolates to create a unique cluster, designated JIO. The human JIO-related viruses encoded 18 amino acids different from those of the other HEV genotype 3 strains. One substitution common to almost all human HEV strains in the JIO cluster was located in the helicase domain (V239A) and may be associated with increased virulence. A zoonotic origin of JIO-related viruses is suspected because the isolates from the 5 swine also possessed the signature V239A substitution in helicase.     

中国发现基因3型戊型肝炎病毒

目的通过对中国华东地区分离出的2株基因3型戊型肝炎病毒株进行同源性分析，探讨其分子起源和传播问题。方法收集华东某地区13个养猪场的133份猪粪便标本，利用巢式RT—PCR技术扩增戊肝病毒基因组的开放读码区2（ORF2）和RNA依赖的RNA聚合酶区（RdRp，ORF1），并进行基因同源性分析。结果戊肝病毒RNA检出率为43．61％（58／133）。其中，在同一个养猪场检出的2份阳性标本与23条戊肝病毒基因3型全长序列在ORF2和ORF1区的同源性分别为77．10％～92．64％和77．49％～91．14％，被划分为基因3型。另外12个养猪场的56份阳性标本均为基因4型。同时发现，某些日本分离的基因3型病毒株比其他基因3型株更接近本次分离的病毒株。结论这是在中国大陆地区首次发现基因3型戊肝病毒。同时证明在一个较为局限的群体中基因3型和4型病毒可以共存。     

Detection and molecular characterization of swine hepatitis E virus in North Carolina swine herds and their faecal wastes

Recent findings of almost genetically indistinguishable swine and human strains, have suggested swine play a role in the transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV). The extent to which HEV may be present and persist in the faecal waste generated from intensive swine operations is largely unknown. The fate of swine waste liquid is often land application, possibly resulting in unintentional seepage into groundwater or run-off into surface waters, hence validating concerns of human exposure risks. Freshly passed swine faeces, barn flush liquid waste, and lagoon liquid from production sites in North Carolina were surveyed periodically for HEV using RT-PCR primers located in ORF2. On three farms where HEV RNA was detected in swine faeces, it was also found in stored liquid waste on several occasions. HEV presence was related to swine age but not to animal management and waste management procedures, which varied amongst the farms. Seasonal patterns of HEV prevalence could not be established as viral RNA was isolated at all time points from two farms. Phylogenetic analysis of 212 bases of the genomic RNA indicated that isolates resembled the known US swine and human strains (percentage nucleic acid homology 91 to 94%), with one amino acid substitution.     

The effects of synonymous codon usages on genotypic formation of open reading frames in hepatitis E virus

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has emerged as an important public health issue. As a zoonotic RNA virus, new strains are continuously discovered from human or various animal species. However, the capability of cross-species infection varies largely among different strains. Because the classical nucleotide-based genotyping system provides little functional insight, this study aimed to comprehensively investigate codon usage of the HEV coding regions for better understanding the evolutional orientation, virus-host interaction and cross-species transmission. We observed significant differences of the four nucleotide usages in the three open reading frames, indicating that the evolutional tendency of HEV caused by mutation pressure is modified by the evolutional dynamic related to positive selection. Furthermore, significant differences of nucleotide usages were found among HEV isolated from different host species, suggesting an important role of natural selection related to the host. Analysis of effective number of codons revealed distinct degrees of biased codon usage caused by mutation pressure or the host. Finally, we have mapped the similarity levels of the overall codon usage between the virus and the host to assess the potential of cross-species infection. Thus, this study has provided a novel aspect for better understanding the HEV genetic orientation and the zoonotic nature.     

中国南方某农村地区人与猪戊型肝炎病毒的检测和部分序列分析

目的调查中国南方某农村地区戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）人株与猪株的相关性。方法应用逆转录-巢式聚合酶链法（RT—nPCR）对一般人群中HEV-IgM阳性者、急性戊型肝炎患者和当地某养猪场的猪进行HEV RNA检测，并对HEV RNA阳性标本进行克隆测序和序列分析。结果132份猪粪便标本中13份为HEV RNA阳性；26份IgM阳性一般人群血清标本中有4份HEV RNA阳性；4例急性戊型肝炎患者中有1例的血清和粪便标本为阳性。序列分析发现该地区HEV人株与猪株在ORF2部分区域的核苷酸序列同源性为89．3％～100．0％，这10株HEV序列与HEVⅠ型、Ⅱ型、Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型在同一区域的核苷酸序列的同源性分别为78．7％～84．7％、83．3％～85．3％、76．0％～80．0％和84．7％～95．3％。结论该地区人群及猪群中流行的HEV同属基因Ⅳ型。     

上海地区猪戊型肝炎感染状况及病毒序列分析

[目的] 调查上海地区猪戊型肝炎感染现况,掌握上海市猪感染戊型肝炎病毒的型别,以进一步探讨猪戊型肝炎感染与病人感染的可能关系。[方法]采集上海市3个区的不同季度的3月龄猪血样,用ELISA法检测抗-HEV 特异性抗体水平,并用RT-nPCR方法检测猪粪便中HEV病毒,进行RNA核酸序列分析和基因进化树分析。 [结果] 共检测猪血清标本1 798份,HEV抗体阳性率为89．38％;44份猪粪便样品中17份RT、-nPCR为阳性,HEV RNA阳性率为38．64％,病毒序列经同源性分析,与戊型肝炎病毒I、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ型的同源性分别为78．5％-84．0％、76．5％-80．7％、 77．3％-82．7％、84．6％-90．7％,基因进化树的分析显示,病毒序列与HEVⅣ型的ⅣA形成同一分支。[结论] 上海地区的猪戊型肝炎感染率较高,戊型肝炎病毒型别属基因型Ⅳ型。