title: Phylogenetic analysis of GB virus C: comparison of isolates from Africa, North America, and Taiwan.
abstract: A group of flavi-like GB viruses (GBV-A, -B, and -C) has been discovered and partially characterized. Only GBV-C is found in humans. Nucleotide sequences of the putative helicase gene of the GBV-C genome were determined in 21 Taiwanese patients and compared with isolates from Africa and North America by phylogenetic analysis. The average similarities of Taiwanese isolates to those from West Africa, East Africa, Canada, and United States were 83%, 85%, 78%, and 82%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the NS3 region showed that 81% of the Taiwanese isolates were more closely related to the East African isolate. GBV-C isolates from Taiwan could be classified into at least 3 groups. These data suggest that GBV-C isolates cloned from different geographic areas have genetic heterogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hsiang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020365:RNA Helicases; D012316:RNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D012316:RNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D020365:RNA Helicases