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Full‐length complementary DNA of hepatitis C virus genome from an infectious blood sample
Author(s) -
Aizaki Hideki,
Aoki Yoichiro,
Harada Takashi,
Ishii Koji,
Suzuki Tetsuro,
Nagamori Seishi,
Toda Gotaro,
Matsuura Yoshiharu,
Miyamura Tatsuo
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.510270242
Subject(s) - virology , genome , hepatitis c virus , dna , biology , virus , medicine , genetics , gene
We constructed a full‐length complementary DNA (cDNA) clone of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from a blood sample of an HCV carrier. The blood from the carrier was eventually transfused to a patient who later developed typical posttransfusion hepatitis C. It was also shown to be infectious to chimpanzees. We obtained 12 overlapping cDNA fragments altogether, covering the entire HCV genome. By subcloning and sequencing, clones considered to constitute the major population were selected. We could also detect 98 base pairs of extra sequences at the 3′ end of the genome. After confirming the overlapping sequences, we combined the fragments to make a full‐length cDNA. The HCV population in the donor was heterogeneous, as determined by their nucleotide sequences of the hypervariable region in envelope protein, but a few virus clones were selected in the recipient after transmission. The similar convergence of the virus population was previously observed when the same blood sample was injected into a chimpanzee. Interestingly, virus clones isolated during the acute phase in the recipient and the chimpanzee had sequences in the hypervariable region identical to that of the full‐length cDNA clone. The full‐length cDNA clone of HCV constructed in this study may originate from infectious virus clones.