J Korean Soc Virol.  1998 Jun;28(2):175-182.

The Detection and the Antigenic Analysis of the Hepatitis G Virus in Korea

Abstract

We investigated the rate of hepatitis G virus infection among 50 patients who were not infected with the hepatitis C virus but showed symptoms of hepatitis. Viral RNA was extracted from the patients'sera and cDNA was synthesized and amplified by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) using random hexamer and 5 primers (470-20-1-77F, 470-20-1-211R, 470-20-1-211R-biotin, GV57-4512MF, GV57-4657MR). The amplified PCR products were confirmed by electrochemiluminescence (ECL), liquid hybridization (LH) and Southern blotting (SB). Among the 50 PCR products, by means of ECL, we found 4 samples to be positive and 5 samples to be indeterminate. The GV45-89M probe (5'-CYCGCTGRTTTGGGGTGTACTGGAAGGC-3') was end-labelled with gamma-32P ATP and used for liquid hybridization with the PCR products. By using liquid hybridization, we detected specific bands from 4 positive sera and also from one indeterminate serum as determined by ECL. An 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis of the 9 PCR products which were HGV positive or indeterminate as determined by ECL showed a 160bp band from 4 positive and one indeterminate serum. The 5 PCR products proved to be positive when SB was applied with the GV45-89M probe as well as when LH was applied. LH and SB were shown to have higher sensitivity and specificity than ECL. Two cases among 5 positive cases had relatively high SGOT, SGPT, ALP values when compared with other 48 cases. In summary, we confirmed hepatitis G virus infection in 5 cases among 50 Korean patients showing symptoms of viral hepatitis.

MeSH Terms

Adenosine Triphosphate
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Blotting, Southern
DNA, Complementary
Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
GB virus C*
Hepacivirus
Hepatitis*
Humans
Korea*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Viral
Sensitivity and Specificity
Adenosine Triphosphate
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
DNA, Complementary
RNA, Viral