Sequence variability of the 5' UTR in isolates of hepatitis C virus in China.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus infection is a great issue in China; however, there is very little information on genotyping investigations based on sequence variability in the 5'untranslated (5'UTR) reported. The present study was to define the sequence variability based on the sequence divergences of the 5'UTR of the virus.


METHODS
Sequences of 91 isolates from patients with chronic hepatitis C from Yunnan, southwest China, were sequenced and genotypes were defined according to the sequence divergences of the 5'UTR of the virus.


RESULTS
Eighty-six isolates were classified into 3 clades (previously termed groups or major types) by the methods proposed by Chan et al in 1992 and phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide sequence divergences within the 5'UTR. Fifty-six percent of the isolates were classified into clade 3, 35% into clade 1, and 34.9% into clade 2. New genotypes 1f, 2h, 3h and 3i were defined. In addition, 3 novel sequences were discovered, respectively with an 18-nt sequence deletion (corresponding to nucleotide position -173 to -156), a 28-nt sequence insertion, and a 40-nt sequence insertion, between -56 and -55. Of these isolates, 56% possessed a "G" at position -66 in place of the "T" that is present in all previously reported sequences.


CONCLUSIONS
These HCV variants, evolved or remained in this area, may be of great significance in diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C patients.
Chen
Yuan-Ding
YD
Key Laboratory, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China. chenyd@km169.net
Liu
Ming-Ying
MY
Yu
Wen-Lin
WL
Li
Jia-Qi
JQ
Peng
Mei
M
Dai
Qing
Q
Wu
Jun
J
Liu
Xiao
X
Zhou
Zhen-Quan
ZQ
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements