Molecular evolution of hepatitis viruses

Abstract

Methods and models for analytical and quantitative researches on the evolution of hepatitis viruses using nucleotide sequences and amino acids of hepatitis viruses are described. Methods for the calculation of evolutionary rates and the construction of molecular evolutionary trees, especially by estimating the number of nucleotide substitutions and the number of amino acids, are introduced hereinafter. In addition, the evolution of the hepatitis virus is discussed by applying these methods to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.