ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To sequence PrM and E gene of the Japanese encephalitis virus isolated from Gansu province in 2008 and analysis the genotype of new JEV isolates and the molecular characterization of E gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Computer software was used to analyze nucleic acid sequence and deduced amino acid sequence, and draw phylogenetic trees, including ClustalX2.09, MegAlign and Mega4.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The six JEV strains were clustered in genotype I. 87.5%-87.9% identity in nucleotide sequence and 96.8%-97.2% identity in amino acid sequence were found in E gene when compared with the vaccine strain SA14-14-2. Eleven common amino acid differences were observed in E protein between new isolates and the vaccine strain.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genotype I JEVs were isolated from mosquitoes collected in Gansu province. The amino acid difference occurred in sites that were not the key ones affecting the antigenic of JEV.</p>