title: Improved amplification system for detection of hepatitis C virus genome that simultaneously differentiates viral genotypes.
abstract: An improved system for amplification of hepatitis C virus genome (HCV) was developed based on a multiplex nested polymerase chain reaction format. Two sets of oligonucleotide primers were used simultaneously. One was derived from the conserved sequences in the 5' non-coding region of the viral genome which can bind to the viral genome of all genotypes. The other set of primers was designed from a sequence in the nonstructural-5 region of HCV. HCV genotypes 1 and 3 can be differentiated by the banding patterns of amplified DNA products. All of 39 samples containing the HCV genotype 1 could be amplified with primers in the 5' non-coding region only, whereas 92% of those with genotype 3 could be amplified by both primer sets. In addition, HCV RNA can be detected in 81% of 84 anti-HCV-positive blood donors and in 0% of 34 anti-HCV-negative cases. Of the HCV RNA-positive specimens, 69% showed genotype 1-like patterns while 31% showed genotype 3-like patterns. The detection rate of HCV RNA in this study was much higher than that in our previous report due to the improvement of new primers which can detect all genotypes of the virus. In conclusion, this improved amplification system is a sensitive method for rapid identification of HCV RNA in clinical specimens that can simultaneously differentiate the two most common genotypes of HCV found in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. sissv@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Songsivilai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kanistanon
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Panyavinin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neelamek
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dharakul
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D017931:DNA Primers; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods; D013785:Thailand; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins