Genetic diversity of near genome-wide hepatitis C virus sequences during chronic infection: evidence for protein structural conservation over time.

ABSTRACT: Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the leading causes of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease worldwide. The genetics of HCV infection in humans and the disease course of chronic hepatitis C are both remarkably variable. Although the response to interferon treatment is largely dependent on HCV genotypes, whether or not a relationship exists between HCV genome variability and clinical course of hepatitis C disease still remains unknown. To more thoroughly understand HCV genome evolution over time in association with disease course, near genome-wide HCV genomes present in 9 chronically infected participants over 83 total study years were sequenced. Overall, within HCV genomes, the number of synonymous substitutions per synonymous site (d(S)) significan

SUBMITTER: Li H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3088699 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature