Modelling how responsiveness to interferon improves interferon-free treatment of hepatitis C virus infection.

ABSTRACT: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for hepatitis C treatment tend to fare better in individuals who are also likely to respond well to interferon-alpha (IFN), a surprising correlation given that DAAs target specific viral proteins whereas IFN triggers a generic antiviral immune response. Here, we posit a causal relationship between IFN-responsiveness and DAA treatment outcome. IFN-responsiveness restricts viral replication, which would prevent the growth of viral variants resistant to DAAs and improve treatment outcome. To test this hypothesis, we developed a multiscale mathematical model integrating IFN-responsiveness at the cellular level, viral kinetics and evolution leading to drug resistance at the individual level, and treatment outcome at the population level. Model predictions q

SUBMITTER: Venugopal V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6057683 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature