Emergence of genetically variant Hepatitis C virus population in response to increased antiviral drug pressure, Pakistan

Virus Genes. 2014 Jun;48(3):543-9. doi: 10.1007/s11262-014-1047-y. Epub 2014 Feb 16.

Abstract

Mutations in NS5B gene of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reported in patients undergoing antiviral therapy. In the present study, we report emerging clade of HCV-3a in patients administered with IFN plus ribavirin therapy for 24 weeks and having low viral loads (<250 IU/mL). Mutations D/N244E, K304R, N/K307G, Q/T329V, and A338V were found associated with these emerging strains. This distinct HCV could be associated with the increased antiviral drug pressure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Hepacivirus / classification
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / virology*
  • Humans
  • Interferons / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Pakistan
  • Phylogeny
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Ribavirin
  • Interferons
  • NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus