Complete coding sequence of hepatitis C virus genotype 6a

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 234; no. 2; pp. 393 - 396
• Main Authors: Adams, N J, Chamberlain, R W, Taylor, L A, Davidson, F, Lin, C K, Elliott, R M, Simmonds, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 19.05.1997
• Subjects: Cloning, Molecular; DNA, Viral - genetics; Evolution, Molecular; Genotype; Hepacivirus - classification; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepacivirus - isolation & purification; Hong Kong; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Open Reading Frames; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Viral Proteins - genetics; Hong Kong
• DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1997.6627
• ISSN: 0006-291X

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6a is found in a restricted part of South East Asia, including Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam. We determined the full length coding sequence of a type 6a isolate (EUHK2) obtained from a Hong Kong blood donor. The sequence of EUHK2 contained a single open reading frame coding for a polyprotein of 3018 amino acids, within the range of 3008 to 3037 for other HCV genotypes. The full length sequence of EUHK2 showed 30.3%-32.9% nucleotide (24.3%-29.4% amino acid) sequence divergence from genotypes 1-4, but only 27.7% (20.7% amino acid) divergence from JK046 ("type 11a"). These similarity values were intermediate between those of other HCV genotypes (minimum 28.4%) and between subtypes (maximum 25%). The close evolutionary relationship of EUHK2 with JK046 was further indicated by their grouping together by phylogenetic analysis.