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Evidence for hepatitis E virus quasispecies.
Marc Grandadam1, Soraya Tebbal2, Mélanie Caron1
1Laboratoire de Biologie Clinique, HIA Val de Grâce, 74 boulevard de Port Royal, 75230 Paris cédex 05, France.
The Journal of General Virology
|October 16, 2004
Summary
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) exhibits significant genetic diversity within outbreaks, revealing a quasispecies organization. This genetic variability explains the virus's adaptability in host-pathogen interactions during epidemics.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genetic diversity is well-documented, with strains classified into genotypes.
- Limited research exists on HEV strain polymorphism within single outbreaks.
- HEV causes acute hepatitis, particularly in developing regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic diversity and polymorphism of HEV strains from a specific epidemic outbreak in Algeria.
- To assess inter- and intra-patient genetic variation of HEV during an epidemic.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum samples from an Algerian hepatitis E epidemic (1986-1987).
- Retrospective detection of HEV using partial ORF1 and ORF2 gene sequences.
- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing of the ORF2 gene (448 bp) to assess diversity.
Main Results:
- 23 out of 69 serum samples were positive for HEV.
- RFLP analysis identified three distinct profiles (A, B, C) among the isolates.
- Most isolates showed high sequence identity (99.7-100%), but some exhibited 1-1.3% divergence.
- Intra-patient HEV diversity, ranging from 0.11% to 3.4%, was observed in 9 out of 12 isolates studied.
Conclusions:
- The findings strongly support a quasispecies organization of HEV during epidemics.
- HEV's genetic heterogeneity within patients contributes to its adaptability.
- Understanding HEV quasispecies is crucial for managing hepatitis E outbreaks.