A set of reference sequences for the hepatitis C genotypes 4d, 4f, and 4k covering the full open reading frame.

J Med Virol
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

Infection with genotype 4 of the Hepatitis C virus is common in Africa and the Mediterranean area, but has also been found at increasing frequencies in injection drug users in Europe and North America. Full length viral sequences to characterize viral diversity and structure have recently become available mostly for subtype 4a, and studies in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, where high proportions of subtype 4a infected patients exist, have begun to establish optimized treatment regimens. However knowledge about other subtype variants of genotype 4 present in less developed African states is lacking. In this study the full coding region from so far poorly characterized variants of HCV genotype 4 was amplified and sequenced using a long range PCR technique. Sequences were analyzed with respect to phylogenetic relationship, possible recombination and prominent sequence characteristics compared to other known HCV strains. We present for the first time two full-length sequences from the HCV genotype 4k, in addition to five strains from HCV genotypes 4d and 4f. Reference sequences for accurate HCV genotyping are required for optimized treatment, and a better knowledge of the global viral sequence diversity is needed to guide vaccines or new drugs effective in the world wide epidemic.

Year of Publication
2008
Journal
J Med Virol
Volume
80
Issue
8
Pages
1370-8
Date Published
2008 Aug
ISSN
1096-9071
URL
DOI
10.1002/jmv.21240
PubMed ID
18551618
PubMed Central ID
PMC2818806
Links
Grant list
R01 AI067926-01 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI067926 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
HHSN266200400001C / AO / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01-AI067926-01 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
HHSN266200400001C / PHS HHS / United States