M. Ding et al., SEQUENCE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE 5'-NONCODING REGION OF GB VIRUS-C HEPATITIS-G VIRUS, Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 231(3), 1997, pp. 606-609
The nucleotide sequences of the 5' noncoding region of the GE virus C/
hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) were determined in 18 isolates from the
United States, Two genotyges have been classified based on the sequenc
e heterogeneity within the 5' noncoding region of GBV-V/HGV. The most
distantly related isolates between the two genotypes were 84.6% identi
cal, Sequence identity of the isolates within a genotype was 95-99%, T
he 5' noncoding region of this virus contains four highly conserved do
mains, These conserved elements would facilitate the selection of opti
mal primers for the sensitive detection of GBV-C/HGV RNA by PCR, In ad
dition, they suggest a crucial role for this region in viral replicati
on and/or gene expression. Detection of viral replication and/or gene
expression. Detection of variation among GBV-C/HGV infected individual
s may provide further insight into the possible pathogenicity and into
the transmission of the virus. (C) 1997 Academic Press.