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A cDNA clone closely associated with non-A, non-B hepatitis
M Maéno1, K Kaminaka, H Sugimoto
1Department of Pathology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Nucleic Acids Research
|May 11, 1990
Summary
Researchers identified a novel cDNA clone, C8-2, from plasma of patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis. This clone shows specific reactivity with patient sera, suggesting it originates from the causative agent of this viral hepatitis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) is a significant cause of viral hepatitis.
- The causative agent of NANBH remained elusive, hindering diagnosis and treatment.
- High alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in plasma can indicate liver inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential viral agents associated with non-A, non-B hepatitis.
- To isolate and characterize novel cDNA sequences from infectious plasma.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a lambda gt11 cDNA library from human plasma.
- Immunoscreening of the library using sera from NANBH carriers and convalescent chimpanzees.
- Sequence analysis, DNA hybridization, RNA blot, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification.
Main Results:
- Isolation of a cDNA clone, C8-2, which produced a recombinant protein reactive with NANBH patient sera.
- The C8-2 sequence (269 bp) showed no homology with human, chimpanzee, or known viral genomes.
- Evidence of C8-2 sequence presence in infectious plasma RNA confirmed by molecular techniques.
Conclusions:
- The C8-2 cDNA clone is likely derived from the causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis.
- This finding provides a potential molecular marker for NANBH.
- Further characterization of C8-2 may lead to diagnostic tools for NANBH.