Hepatitis C virus genotype 5a subgenomic replicons for evaluation of direct-acting antiviral agents.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exists as six major genotypes that differ in geographical distribution, pathogenesis, and response to antiviral therapy. In vitro replication systems for all HCV genotypes except genotype 5 have been reported. In this study, we recovered genotype 5a full-length genomes from four infected voluntary blood donors in South Africa and established a G418-selectable subgenomic replicon system using one of these strains. The replicon derived from the wild-type sequence failed to replicate in Huh-7.5 cells. However, the inclusion of the S2205I amino acid substitution, a cell culture-adaptive change originally described for a genotype 1b replicon, resulted in a small number of G418-resistant cell colonies. HCV RNA replication in these cells was confirmed by quantification of

SUBMITTER: Wose Kinge CN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4135880 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature