Genetic diversity of the hepatitis C virus: impact and issues in the antiviral therapy.

ABSTRACT: The hepatitis C Virus (HCV) presents a high degree of genetic variability which is explained by the combination of a lack of proof reading by the RNA dependant RNA polymerase and a high level of viral replication. The resulting genetic polymorphism defines a classification in clades, genotypes, subtypes, isolates and quasispecies. This diversity is known to reflect the range of responses to Interferon therapy. The genotype is one of the predictive parameters currently used to define the antiviral treatment strategy and the chance of therapeutic success. Studies have also reported the potential impact of the viral genetic polymorphism in the outcome of antiviral therapy in patients infected by the same HCV genotype. Both structural and non structural genomic regions of HCV have been suggest

SUBMITTER: Le Guillou-Guillemette H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4146759 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature