Silent mutations in coding regions of Hepatitis C virus affect patterns of HCV RNA structures and attenuate viral replication and pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vaccines based on live attenuated viruses are the most effective strategy for controlling infections, since they elicit long-lasting natural and effective immune response, but entail challenges for safety and virulence. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) causes liver diseases and liver cancer, with millions infected each year and hundreds of thousands of annual fatalities; but no vaccine is currently available for the virus. Here, we present a novel computational approach for the accurate prediction of virus attenuation.

Results

We rationally design viral variants by inserting a large number of synonymous mutations in the NS5A/B coding region to disrupt the viral RNA's secondary structure and regulatory sequences important for the viral life cycle. By measuring RNA levels an

SUBMITTER: Dabour R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12498475 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature