Hepatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hepatitis, including details on hepatitis a, b, c, causes, symptoms.

Identification of a novel single-stranded DNA fragment associated with human hepatitis.

Yeh CT, Tsao ML, Lin YC, Tseng IC

Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. chauting@adm.cgmh.org.tw

By performing nonspecific polymerase chain reaction followed by elimination of chromosome-derived sequences, foreign DNA fragments were obtained from the serum of a patient with non-A-E hepatitis. One of the sequences, named NV-F, contained a partial open reading frame and was detected in 17 (24.6%) of 69 patients with non-A-E hepatitis, including 1 with fulminant hepatitis (vs. in 5 [2.8%] of 180 healthy individuals). A peptide was synthesized accordingly, to detect serum anti-NV-F antibody, which was found in 49 (75.4%) of 65 patients positive for NV-F. This DNA fragment was sensitive to S1 nuclease digestion. Cesium chloride gradient analysis revealed that the NV-F-associated particles had buoyant densities of 1.33-1.39 and 1.22-1.25 g/mL. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the novel antigen was present in the hepatocytes of patients infected with NV-F. In conclusion, we have identified a novel single-stranded DNA fragment derived from a virus-like agent associated with human hepatitis.

Published 17 March 2006 in J Infect Dis, 193(8): 1089-97.
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