REPLICATION OF HEPATITIS-DELTA VIRUS

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a unique viroid-like human pathogen tha t is always associated with hepatitis B infection, Replication of HDV involves the transcription of genomic RNA, probably by the host RNA po lymerase II, by a rolling circle mechanism followed by self-cleavage a nd self-ligation. Editing of antigenomic RNA, possibly involving the e nzyme adenosine deaminase, generates two functionally distinct forms o f delta antigen. The molecular basis for HDV pathogenicity remains unc ertain.