Isolation of novel virus-like sequences associated with human hepatitis.
Two viruses, GB virus A (GBV-A) and GB virus B (GBV-B), were recently identified in the GB hepatitis agent. Human sera containing antibodies that recognize GBV-A and/or GBV-B recombinant proteins were subjected to polymerase chain reaction studies with degenerate oligonucleotides capable of amplifying a segment of the putative helicase genes from GBV-A, GBV-B or hepatitis C virus. Novel sequences related to members of the Flaviviridae were identified in sera from 12 individuals including 4 individuals with hepatitis. The limited nucleotide sequence identity between GBV-A, GBV-B and HCV sequences suggests that a novel virus, tentatively named GB virus C, may be responsible for some cases of non-A, non-B, non-C, non-D, non-E hepatitis.
Simons
J N
JN
Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, USA.
Leary
T P
TP
Dawson
G J
GJ
Pilot-Matias
T J
TJ
Muerhoff
A S
AS
Schlauder
G G
GG
Desai
S M
SM
Mushahwar
I K
IK
D000328:Adult; D000351:Africa, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017385:Sequence Homology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D004265:DNA Helicases