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Published on: July 16, 2012
Recombinant hepatitis C virus in experimentally infected chimpanzees
Fengxiang Gao1, Omana V Nainan1, Yuri Khudyakov1
1Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
The Journal of General Virology
|December 16, 2006
Summary
Genetic recombination was observed between Hepatitis C virus (HCV) subgenotypes 1a and 1b in experimentally infected chimpanzees. This study identified novel recombinant variants with differing crossover points and sequence orders.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exhibits significant genetic diversity, with multiple subgenotypes co-circulating.
- Understanding viral recombination is crucial for comprehending HCV evolution and pathogenesis.
- Experimental models are essential for studying complex viral interactions like recombination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genetic recombination between different Hepatitis C virus (HCV) subgenotypes.
- To identify and characterize recombinant HCV variants following experimental co-infection.
- To analyze the sequence variability and crossover points in emergent recombinant strains.
Main Methods:
- Experimental inoculation of chimpanzees with a factor VIII concentrate containing a mixture of HCV subgenotypes (1a, 1b, 2b, 3a).
- Amplification of a 750 bp fragment from the HCV envelope region using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
- Isolation and sequencing of HCV quasispecies via plasmid cloning and subsequent sequence analysis to detect inter-subgenotypic recombination.
Main Results:
- Evidence of genetic recombination between HCV subgenotypes 1a and 1b was detected in two of the three experimentally infected chimpanzees.
- Analysis revealed distinct recombinant variants, each characterized by unique crossover region locations and varied arrangements of subgenotype 1a and 1b sequences.
- The study successfully identified and characterized inter-subgenotypic recombinant HCV strains within an experimental setting.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) subgenotypes can undergo genetic recombination in vivo during experimental co-infection.
- The identified recombinant variants demonstrate variability in their genetic structure and crossover points.
- These findings contribute to the understanding of HCV genetic diversity and evolution through recombination.
