Hepacivirus A


Hepacivirus A, or Canine hepacivirus, is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Hepacivirus. It causes pulmonary infections in dogs.

History

The virus was isolated in 2011 from number of dogs suffering from respiratory infections.

Genome

As of 2012, the genome has not yet been fully sequenced. The available sequence is about 6,500 nucleotides in length. It is predicted to have a polyprotein that can be cleaved into 10 smaller proteins. There is a 'slippery sequence' – A5NNA5 – within the genome which may encode a programmed frameshift. It encodes two envelope proteins as well as cysteine and serine proteases.
The overall G+C content is 50.7%.

Evolution

The virus appears to have evolved from the Hepatitis C virus between 500 and 1,000 years ago.