[Analysis of genome character and amino acid residues 2,209 to 2,248 of NS5 A region of hepatitis C virus in relation to the response to interferon therapy].
OBJECTIVE
To observe nucleotide sequence variations and amino acid residues 2,209 to 2,248 of the NS5 A region of hepatitis C virus in relation to interferon therapy in Chinese patients infected with HCV genotype 1b.


METHODS
We collected sera from 22 patients infected with HCV genotype 1b, performed nested RT-PCR using extracted serum RNA from sera, amplified NS5 A region 2,209 to 2,248 and sequenced the PCR product directly. The deduced amino acid sequences were compared with the corresponding region of the HCV-J prototype strain.


RESULTS
Only 4 isolates were intermediate type, and no mutant type was found. In 18 patients treated with IFN-alpha, only 4 were HCV RNA negative at present, No correlation was found between amino acid mutation and IFN response.


CONCLUSIONS
Variations in the NS5 A region between amino acid residues 2,209 to 2,248 failed to predict IFN response in Chinese patients infected with HCV genotype 1b. IFN may accelerate nucleotide variation but has little influence on amino acid variations.
Duan
X
X
Department of Immunology, 302 Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100039.
Zhu
C
C
Cheng
Y
Y
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase