Non-B, non-C, non-G hepatitis virus gene, polynucleotide, polypeptide, virus particle, method for isolating virus particle, and method for detecting virus

Abstract

By isolating a so far unknown novel hepatitis virus and determining the gene sequence thereof, genes, polynucleotides, polypeptides, methods for isolating virus particles, virus particles, and antiviral antibodies, which can be used for diagnosis and treatment, as well as methods for detecting viruses are provided. Disclosed is a non-B, non-C, non-G hepatitis virus gene having a nucleotide sequence from which a sequence having a length of from about 3500 nucleotides to about 4000 nucleotides can be amplified by PCR utilizing an oligonucleotide having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 57 and an oligonucleotide having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 60 as primers, or PCR utilizing an oligonucleotide having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 57 and an oligonucleotide having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 61 as primers. Based on the nucleotide sequence of the gene, polypeptides etc. are provided.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method for detecting a non-B, non-C, non-G hepatitis virus gene wherein PCR is performed by using a non-B non-C, non-G hepatitis virus gene having a nucleotide sequence from which a sequence having a length of from about 3500 nucleotides to about 4000 nucleotides can be amplified by PCR utilizing an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 57 and an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 60 as primers or PCR utilizing the oligonucleotide having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 57 and an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 61 as primers:  
     
     
         14 . A method for detecting a non-B, non-C, non-G hepatitis virus gene wherein PCR is performed by using an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3, or an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 and an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 as primers.  
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting a non-B, non-C, non-G hepatitis virus gene wherein PCR is performed by using an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 and an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8, or an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 and the oligonucleotide having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 as primers.  
     
     
         16 . A method for differentiating non-B, non-C, non-G hepatitis virus genotypes wherein the method as defined in  claim 14  is performed for one sample, and is compared with results obtained from the a method for detecting a non-B non-C, non-G hepatitis virus gene wherein PCR is performed by using an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 and an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8, or an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 and the oligonucleotide having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 as primers on the same sample.  
     
     
         17 . A method for differentiating non-B, non-C, non-G hepatitis virus genotypes wherein hybridization is performed by using an oligonucleotide present in a virus gene having a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 45, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 46, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 47, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 47, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 48, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 49, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 50, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 51, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 52, a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 53 and a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:  54  and specific for genotype of the gene.  
     
     
         18 - 58 . (canceled)  
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the virus gene has a nucleotide sequence from which a sequence having a length of from about 3600 nucleotides to about 3900 nucleotides can be amplified by PCR.  
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the nucleotide sequences at the 5′ end and the 3′ end of a fragment amplified by PCR have 70% or more homology to a nucleotide sequence of nucleotide number 3-300 and a nucleotide sequence of nucleotide number 2402-3739 of a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, respectively.  
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 60 , wherein the homology is 80% or more.