title: Genetic analysis of wild-type hepatitis A virus strains.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the distribution of hepatitis A virus (HAV) genotype in geographical regions of China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen representative HAV strains were isolated from the stool or serum of hepatitis A patients in different geographical regions. Viral RNA was recovered from stool or serum by proteinase K digestion and phenol-chloroform extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation prior to reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification. The nucleotide sequences of VP1/2A junction region were tested by using a direct sequencing technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A pairwise comparison of sequences within 168 bases at the VP1/2A junction revealed that all the sequences clustered within genotype I. About 53% of strains clustered in genotype I B, with less than 6% variability; while the others clustered in genotype I A, with less than 5.3% variability. Sequence homology between genotype I A and I B varied from 88.7% to 92.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidemic or sporadic HAV strains in China may belong to HAV genotype I A or I B. Epidemiologically related strains may be identical or closely related in sequence.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 60 Tian Mu Shan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D005838:Genotype; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction