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Evolution in the hypervariable region of the hepatitis C virus in two infants infected by mother-to-infant

Tsutomu Ishii1, Hitoshi Ohto, Chikako Takeuchi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan. ishiit@fmu.ac.jp

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|May 25, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies in infants evolved significantly over ten years post-transmission. Infant HCV evolution showed increased variability and shifts in hydrophobia profiles, similar to adults.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Limited data exists on hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies evolution in infants following mother-to-infant transmission.
  • This study investigates the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of HCV in two mother-infant pairs over a decade.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the long-term evolution of HCV quasispecies in infants infected via mother-to-infant transmission.
  • To compare viral evolution patterns between infected infants and their mothers.

Main Methods:

  • HCV RNA was extracted from serum samples of two mother-infant pairs.
  • Ten cDNA clones of the HVR1 region were generated and analyzed for sequence variability, identity, and hydrophobia profiles.
  • Phylogenetic studies were conducted to assess quasispecies evolution.

Main Results:

  • Infant A exhibited higher sequence diversity and greater amino acid changes in HVR1 compared to Infant B.
  • Phylogenetic analysis indicated more extensive quasispecies evolution in Infant A than in Infant B.
  • Both infants displayed dynamic shifts in hydrophobia profiles within the HVR1 sequences.

Conclusions:

  • HCV HVR1 evolution and quasispecies variability increase in infants with mother-to-infant transmission over a ten-year period.
  • Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in infants may indicate the emergence of escape mutants and novel quasispecies.
  • Findings suggest that infant HCV evolution mirrors patterns observed in adults.
Abstract

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