Partial nucleotide sequencing of 7 hepatitis e virus strains isolated from sera of patients with acute sporadic hepatitis e in China
Zhu, X.; Zhuang, H.; Zhu, W.
Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 77(6): 447-449
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0376-2491 PMID: 9772511 Document Number: 471891
To compare partial nucleotide and amino acid sequences between epidemic and sporadic hepatitis E viruses (HEV) in China and their relation to the frequency of hepatitis E (HE). A reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) was used for the amplication of HEV open reading frame 2 (ORF2) cDNA from sera of patients with acute sporadic HE. The RT-nPCR products of HEV ORF2 cDNA were directly sequenced using a sequenase version 2.0 kit with the dideoxy sequencing method. 28 of 41 sera of patients with acute sporadic HE obtained from Shenzhen, Changchun, Hangzhou, Xian and Beijing by RT-nPCR were HEV ORF2 cDNA positive, and 7 of them were sequenced. The nucleotide homology of the seven HEV ORF2 cDNA was 78.9%-80.2%, as compared with the Mexico strain of HEV (M); 93.1%-95.1% with the Burma epidemic strain of HEV (B) (Ep); 92.3%-94.2% with the Burma sporadic strain of HEV (B) (Sp); 96.5%-98.9% with the Xinjiang epidemic strain of HEV CH 1.1; and 95.7%-100.0% between them. The seven strains of HEV ORF2 cDNA isolated from sera of acute sporadic HE cases have a higher degree of homology with the HEV CH 1.1 and the HEV (B), and may belong to HEV (B) subtype, as the HEV CH1.1 does.