ABSTRACT
Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a single-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae, has a wide range of genetic heterogeneity: 6-11 genotypes (or 6 clades) have been known and each genotype comprises multiple subtypes. Here we report the entire nucleotide sequence of an HCV isolate from a patient in Moldova with chronic hepatitis (isolate name VAT96). The genetic organization of VAT96 was, from 5' to 3' ends, 5'UTR (341 nt), polyprotein ORF (9099 nt), 3'UTR (38 nt except for the poly-U and poly-pyrimidine stretch), and X-tail (98 nt). Comparison of the polyprotein amino acid sequence of VAT96 with those of known full-genome isolates assigned VAT96 to the genotype 2 (or clade 2), and further phylogenetic analysis based on a 447-nt sequence that covers part of the C and El regions suggested that VAT96 represents a new subtype within the genotype 2, arbitrarily designated "2k" VAT96 was unique in that it possessed a U residue prior to GCC at the 5' end of its genome while all the other full-genome HCV sequences start with GCC or ACC. In addition, the polyprotein ORF of HCV-VAT96, like HCV-BEBE1 of 2c, encoded several additional amino acids in excess, compared to 2a and 2b sequences. Despite these characteristics that may be unique to VAT96, the 98-nt sequence of the X-tail of VAT96 was highly homologous to those of other isolates with different genotypes so far reported.
Subject(s)
Genome, Viral , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology , Phylogeny , 3' Untranslated Regions , 5' Untranslated Regions , Amino Acid Sequence , Amino Acid Substitution , Base Sequence , Genotype , Hepacivirus/classification , Hepacivirus/isolation & purification , Humans , Molecular Sequence Data , Polyproteins/genetics , Sequence Alignment , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
Two groups of adult patients suffering from posttransfusion viral hepatitis (PTVH) were examined. Group I included 179 patients with PTVH B, group 11 72 patients with PTVH C. Both types of the disease exhibited similar epidemiological, clinical and biochemical serum characteristics, seemed to arise against preexisting diseases. Type C occurred more frequently among females, had shorter latent period, ran a light course. To differentiate between PTVH types B and C, practitioners are recommended to regard duration of the latent period, incidence of acute period HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, IgM in the serum, HBs-antigenemia occurrence in donors suspected of PTVH induction, history of serologically confirmed viral hepatitis B.
