BACKGROUNDTo investigate sequence of the complete E region of genotype 2a hepatitis C virus genome and to set up the basis for the further study on biological functions of envelope proteins of HCV.

METHODSTwo cDNA fragments of 770bp, 1,100bp long, from serum of a patients infected HCV, were amplified by reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR). After being digested with two restriction endonucleases, the two fragments were cloned into JM105 respectively, then sequenced.

RESULTSThe two corresponding nucleotide sequences were obtained and ligated. The complete nucleotide sequences of envelope region and corresponding deduced amino acid sequences were compared with those of HCV-1, HC-C2, HCV-BK, HC-J6 and HC-J8. The homology of nucleotide sequence of the isolated strains was 60.5%, 60.1%, 59.7%, 87.8% and 67.5% respectively; the amino acid sequence homology to the isolated strains was found to be 67?3%, 66.4%, 65.0%, 87.8%, 79.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate that the isolated strain (HCV-JS) belongs to genotype 2a, but there is heterogeneity between HCV-JS and HC-J6 strain.