|
Additional analysis of the ancient HBV genomes may be used as amodel to study the evolution of chronic hepatitis B and helpunderstand the spread of the virus, possibly from Africa toEast-Asia. It also may shed further light on the migratory pathwayof hepatitis B in the Far East from China and Japan to Korea aswell as to other regions in Asia and Australia where it is a majorcause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. The reconstruction of the ancient hepatitis B virus genetic code isthe oldest full viral genome described in the scientific literatureto date. It was reported in the May 21 edition of the scientificjournal Hepathology by a research team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's KoretSchool of Veterinary Medicine, the Robert H. Smith Faculty ofAgriculture, Food and Environment; the Hebrew University's Facultyof Medicine, the Hadassah Medical Center's Liver Unit; DankookUniversity and Seoul National University in South Korea. Carbon 14 tests of the clothing of the mummy suggests that the boylived around the 16 th century during the Korean Joseon Dynasty. The viral DNA sequencesrecovered from the liver biopsy enabled the scientists to map theentire ancient hepatitis B viral genome. Using modern-day molecular genetic techniques, the researcherscompared the ancient DNA sequences with contemporary viral genomesdisclosing distinct differences. The changes in the genetic codeare believed to result from spontaneous mutations and possiblyenvironmental pressures during the virus evolutionary process.Based on the observed mutations rates over time, the analysissuggests that the reconstructed mummy's hepatitis B virus DNA hadits origin between 3,000 to 100,000 years ago. The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through the contact withinfected body fluids , i.e. from carrier mothers to their babies,through sexual contact and intravenous drug abuse. According to theWorld Health Organization, there are over 400 million carriers ofthe virus worldwide, predominantly in Africa, China and SouthKorea, where up to 15 percent of the population are cariers of thevirus. In recent years, universal immunization of newborns againsthepatitis B in Israel and in South Korea has lead to a massivedecline in the incidence of infection. The findings are the result of a collaborative effort between Dr.Gila Kahila Bar-Gal of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's KoretSchool of Veterinary Medicine; Prof. Daniel Shouval of the HadassahMedical Center's Liver Unit and Hebrew University; Dr. Myeung JuKim of Dankook University, Seok Ju Seon Memorial Museum; Dr. DongHoon Shin of Seoul National University, College of Medicine ; ProfMark Spigelman of the Hebrew University's Dept. of Parasitology andDr. Paul R. Grant of University College of London,Dept. ofVirology. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as PP Preform Mould , valve gate preform mould for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits PP Preform Mould.
Related Articles -
PP Preform Mould, valve gate preform mould,
|
