Genotypic analysis of Epstein-Barr virus isolates associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Northern China.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the specific Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) polymorphisms from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients and healthy donors in Northern China, and to explore the relationship between the EBV genotypes and NPC.


METHODS
The genotypes of EBV strains were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.


RESULTS
The predominant EBV type was A, C or F in both NPC and healthy individuals. The distributions of the EBV subtypes between NPC and healthy donors were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The frequency of type f strains in NPC was significantly lower in Northern China than in Southern China.


CONCLUSIONS
No evidence of special EBV genotypes associated with NPC was found, suggesting that EBV strains derived from the NPC patients may reflect geographic distribution rather than being NPC restricted.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, China.
Ying
Y
Cui
Yun
Y
Wang
Xia
X
Liu
Yan
Y
Chao
Xiaoming
X
Xing
Chengquan
C
Zhao
Chengyu
C
Liu
Bing
B
Luo
D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005838:Genotype; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D058889:Molecular Typing; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length