Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 isolates in Egypt and analysis of the variability of envelope proteins E1 and E2 in patients with chronic hepatitis.

ABSTRACT: We analyzed hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 isolates circulating in the Alexandria District (Egypt) in terms of genetic divergence and the presence of different subtypes. Hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) and the NH2 region of the E2 protein were characterized, and the heterogeneity of subtype 4a isolates was evaluated by analyzing epitope frequencies, immunoproteasome prediction, and possible glycosylation patterns. The heterogeneity of the nucleotide sequences was greater than that found in previous studies, which reported only subtype 4a. Subtype 4a was most common (78% of cases), yet four new subtypes were found, with subtype 4m representing 11% of the cases and the other three subtypes representing another 11%. Substantial heterogeneity was also found when the intrasubtype 4a sequences

SUBMITTER: Genovese D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1081338 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature