Development of a simple restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) based assay for HCV genotyping and comparative analysis with genotyping and serotyping tests

• Published in: Journal of virological methods 1997-04, Vol.65 (1), p.9-17
• Main Authors: Thiers, Valérie, Jaffredo, Franck, Tuveri, Rosella, Chodan, Nathalie, Bréchot, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5′ UTR RFLP; Antibody Specificity; Biological and medical sciences; Direct sequencing; DNA Probes - analysis; DNA Probes - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genotype; HCV genotypes; HCV RNA; Hepacivirus - classification; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepacivirus - immunology; hepatitis C virus; Humans; LiPA; Microbiology; PCR; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Serotyping - classification; Techniques used in virology; Virology
• ISSN: 0166-0934; 1879-0984
• DOI: 10.1016/S0166-0934(96)02162-3

The distribution between the different hepatitis C virus genotypes and subtypes has potentially important clinical and epidemiological implications. With this view a simple restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) based assay was developed to identify the three major genotypes, 1, 2 and 3 and distinguish subtype 1a from 1b. This RFLP test uses a combination of three restriction endonuclease digestions, BstN1, BstU1 and Sau3a, respectively. Comparison with a 5′UTR based assay (LiPA), showed a 98% concordance with the RFLP based assay. In addition, good concordance is shown between these data and those obtained with a serological assay based on NS4 peptides.