Sequencing of a cDNA fragment of NS5A region of the defective hepatitis C virus
Abstract: Sensitive and specific anti HCV diagnostic kits are very important for preventing of the transmission of hepatitis C virus. Adding HCV NS5A antigen in diagnostic kits may increase the sensitivity of diagnostic reagents. The result of sequencing of NS5A cDNA fragment showed that it shares over 90% nucleotide acid and amino acid homology with HCV BK etc., so the isolate of this study belongs to HCV II. Besides, a mutation at 411nt in NS5A segment, which created a stop codon TGA in the reading frame was found, indicating that the isolate might be a defective virus. Perhaps the defective virus causes the persistent infection of HCV.