Sequence and functional analysis of the envelope glycoproteins of hepatitis C virus variants selectively transmitted to a new host.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a challenging public health problem worldwide. The identification of viral variants establishing de novo infections and definition of the phenotypic requirements for transmission would facilitate the design of preventive strategies. We explored the transmission of HCV variants in three cases of acute hepatitis following needlestick accidents. We used single-genome amplification of glycoprotein E1E2 gene sequences to map the genetic bottleneck upon transmission accurately. We found that infection was likely established by a single variant in two cases and six variants in the third case. Studies of donor samples showed that the transmitted variant E1E2 amino acid sequences were identical or closely related to those of variants from the donor virus populations.

SUBMITTER: D'Arienzo V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3838246 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature