[Genotyping of hepatitis C virus and homology analysis of its core gene sequences isolated from different geological regions].

OBJECTIVE

To study the structure of its genotypes and gene variation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolated from different geological regions.

METHODS

Serum specimens were collected from patients with HCV infection of Henan and Hebei Provinces of China, as well as of Sweden and Germany. HCV RNA in their serum was detected by retro-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and genotyped. The core gene of 11 HCV isolates were sequenced and their homology was analyzed for different geographic regions with software.

RESULTS

Structure of HCV genotypes, isolated from two provinces of China, and from Sweden and Germany, was not identical. The homology of their core gene sequences of the same HCV genotype isolated from the same region was higher than that from different regions, and subtypes 1b and 2a were found in serum collected from China and subtypes 1a, 2c and 3a in serum from Sweden and Germany.

CONCLUSION

Structure of HCV genotypes associated with their geographic distribution and difference in sequences of the same HCV genotype also associated with their geographic regions.