Evolutionary relationship of hepatitis C, pesti‐, flavi‐, plantviruses, and newly discovered GB hepatitis agents

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Abstract
Two flavivirus‐like viruses, GB virus‐A (GBV‐A) and GB virus‐B (GBV‐B), were recently identified in the GB hepatitis agent, and are distinct from the hepatitis A to E viruses. The putative helicase domain of GBV‐A and GBV‐B was found to have amino acid sequence homology with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and distantly, is also related to pestiviruses, flaviviruses, and plant viruses. A phylogenetic tree construction showed that GBVs and HCV are closely related, and they are clustered with pestiviruses, flaviviruses and plant viruses in that order.