Partial cloning and analysis of a new hepatitis E virus
Objective To analyse a hepatitis E virus(ChinaT) isolated from a patient with acute sporadic hepatitis in Beijing. Methods Partial genome of a hepatitis E virus, designated ChinaT, was amplified from the patient's feces by RT-nested PCR. The PCR products were cloned into pGEM-T vector and sequenced. Results The sequence was analysed and the results showed that the nucleotide/amino acid identities of ChinaT and other several HEV isolates including four Chinese strains (ChinaA, ChinaB, ChinaC, ChinaD), and stains from Burma, Mexico,US-1 and Chad were 78%/92%, 78%/92%, 79%/90%, 78%/94%, 76%/92%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis located ChinaT and other HEV strains in different evolutionary branches. Conclusion ChinaT isolate showed high heterogeneity in genetic background and so was quite distinct from other HEV strains. ChinaT may be a new genotype of HEV.