The evolutionary dynamics and epidemiological history of hepatitis C virus genotype 6, including unique strains from the Li community of Hainan Island, China.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a highly diverse pathogen that frequently establishes a chronic long-term infection, but the origins and drivers of HCV diversity in the human population remain unclear. Previously unidentified strains of HCV genotype 6 (gt6) were recently discovered in chronically infected individuals of the Li ethnic group living in Baisha County, Hainan Island, China. The Li community, who were early settlers on Hainan Island, has a distinct host genetic background and cultural identity compared to other ethnic groups on the island and mainland China. In this report, we generated 33 whole virus genome sequences to conduct a comprehensive molecular epidemiological analysis of these novel gt6 strains in the context of gt6 isolates present in Southeast Asia. With the exception of

SUBMITTER: Xu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9115904 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature