Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Two Methods of Heterokaryon Formation to Discover HCV Restriction Factors
16:49

Two Methods of Heterokaryon Formation to Discover HCV Restriction Factors

Published on: July 16, 2012

11.2K

Transmission and evolution of hepatitis C virus in HCV seroconverters in HIV infected subjects

Chengli Shen1, Phalguni Gupta1, Xiaochuan Xu1

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States.

Virology
|January 15, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Investigating Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in HIV-infected individuals reveals that host CD4 cell count does not significantly impact HCV transmission or evolution dynamics. This finding is crucial for understanding viral persistence in co-infected patients.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • HIV/HCV co-infection serves as a critical model for studying immune system roles in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission and evolution.
  • Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing effective treatment and prevention strategies for co-infected individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate HCV transmission and evolution patterns in HIV-infected individuals with varying CD4 cell counts.
  • To analyze the influence of host immunity, specifically CD4 cell count, on viral diversity, immune pressure, and epitope mutations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of HCV envelope E1/E2 sequences from six HCV seroconverters with HIV.
  • Assessment of transmission bottleneck, viral diversity and divergence, and mutations within HLA class I/II restricted and neutralizing epitopes.
  • Correlation of viral characteristics with CD4 cell counts at the time of HCV infection.

Main Results:

  • HCV infection initiated with a transmission bottleneck in all studied HIV-infected subjects.
  • Viral quasispecies shifted over 1.0-2.0 years of infection in most participants.
  • HCV diversity, divergence, and epitope mutations were consistent across subjects, irrespective of initial CD4 cell count.

Conclusions:

  • Host CD4 cell count at the time of HCV infection does not appear to significantly influence HCV transmission and evolution in HIV-infected individuals.
  • These findings suggest that other factors may play a more dominant role in shaping HCV dynamics within this co-infected population.

Keywords:
CD4 cell countEvolutionHCV seroconverterHIVTransmission

More Related Videos

A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication13:04

A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Published on: June 26, 2014

23.7K
Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays13:58

Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays

Published on: September 26, 2011

31.0K

Related Concept Videos

Hepatitis01:25

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver.
86
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
43.0K
Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction01:28

Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction

Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion...
25
Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
33.0K
Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
2.0K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
12.1K