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Hepatitis C cross-genotype immunity and implications for vaccine development.
Nazrul Islam1,2,3, Mel Krajden2,4, Jean Shoveller1,5
1School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Scientific Reports
|September 28, 2017
Summary
Hepatitis C (HCV) infection does not provide lasting immunity. This study found that prior HCV infection does not protect against reinfection with a different genotype, highlighting the need for a multi-genotype vaccine.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health concern.
- Spontaneous or treatment-induced clearance of HCV does not confer sterilizing immunity against reinfection.
- The development of an effective HCV vaccine is hindered by viral genetic diversity and complex immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of cross-genotype immunity following hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
- To determine if prior HCV infection protects against subsequent infection with a different HCV genotype.
- To inform the development of a broadly protective HCV vaccine.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the largest cohort to date examining HCV reinfection.
- Utilized adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to assess the likelihood of re-clearance after reinfection.
- Compared re-clearance rates between homologous and heterologous HCV genotype reinfections.
Main Results:
- Reinfection with a heterologous HCV genotype was associated with a 55% lower likelihood of re-clearance (aHR: 0.45).
- Among individuals who spontaneously cleared their primary infection, reinfection with a heterologous genotype reduced re-clearance likelihood by 49% (aHR: 0.51).
- Findings indicate a lack of cross-genotype immunity following HCV infection.
Conclusions:
- Immunity to one HCV genotype does not provide protection against subsequent infections with different genotypes.
- A prophylactic HCV vaccine incorporating multiple genotypes may be necessary for broader and more effective protection.
- Further research into multi-genotype HCV vaccine strategies is warranted.
