Key result
Bayesian analysis reveals HAV has a lower synonymous evolutionary rate than other picornaviruses.
Why the study?
Previous studies suggested that HAV may evolve more slowly than other members of the Picornaviridae family, requiring precise estimation of substitution rates.
The study provides precise estimates of HAV substitution rates, showing a lower synonymous rate than other Picornaviridae members and a sharp decline in infections coinciding with vaccine introduction in 1996.
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a hepatotropic member of the family Picornaviridae. Previous studies suggested that HAV may evolve more slowly than other members of the family. To estimate HAV substitution rates precisely, we used a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach on temporally sampled HAV VP1 full-length sequences from strains isolated in France. A mean rate of evolutionary change of 9.76 x 10(-4) nucleotide substitution per site per year was found. The results also revealed that the synonymous rate found for HAV is lower than that of other members of the family. Bayesian skyline plots revealed a sharp decline in the effective number of infections in 1996, coinciding with the introduction of HAV vaccine.
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Moratorio et al. (2007) studied Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A virus (HAV) evolution vs. Other members of the family Picornaviridae was evaluated on Mean rate of evolutionary change (nucleotide substitution per site per year). Bayesian analysis of HAV VP1 sequences from France revealed a mean evolutionary rate of 9.76 x 10(-4) nucleotide substitutions per site per year, with a lower synonymous rate than other picornaviruses.
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