PCR-based in vitro synthesis of hepatitis C virus NS3 protease for rapid phenotypic resistance testing of protease inhibitors.

ABSTRACT: Protease inhibitors (PIs) targeting the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease, such as telaprevir, have significantly improved the sustained virologic response (SVR) rates of HCV genotype 1 antiviral therapy. Given the expanding antiviral therapy regimen, fast HCV PI resistance assays are urgently needed. In this view, we have developed a novel phenotypic resistance test for HCV PIs based on in vitro synthesis of patient-derived HCV NS3 protease and subsequent enzymatic testing in a fluorescent readout. The enzymatically active HCV NS3 proteases were synthesized from PCR-derived templates by an Escherichia coli S30 extract system. Tests of the protease genes with known mutations for telaprevir resistance showed that the phenotypic resistance test was fast, with a total turnaround time of <1

SUBMITTER: Qiao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3993517 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature