Use of short tandem repeat fingerprinting to validate sample origins in hepatitis C virus molecular epidemiology studies

Sequence analysis is used to define the molecular epidemiology and evolution of the hepatitis C virus. Whilst most studies have shown that individual patients harbour viruses that are derived from a limited number of highly related strains, some recent reports have shown that some patients can be co-infected with very distinct variants whose frequency can fluctuate greatly. Whilst co-infection with highly divergent strains is possible, an alternative explanation is that such data represent contamination or sample mix-up. In this study, we have shown that DNA fingerprinting techniques can accurately assess sample provenance and differentiate between samples that are truly exhibiting mixed infection from those that harbour distinct virus populations due to sample mix-up. We have argued that this approach should be adopted routinely in virus sequence analyses to validate sample provenance.

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Genetic variability of the hepatitis C virus. Sequence analysis of the NS3 and 5'UTR

Journal of Hepatology ◽

10.1016/0168-8278(91)91192-j ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. S51

Author(s):

M Martell ◽

J Quer ◽

JI Esteban ◽

J Genescá ◽

R Esteban ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Sequence Analysis ◽

Genetic Variability ◽

Virus Sequence

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Evolving Trends in the Hepatitis C Virus Molecular Epidemiology Studies: From the Viral Sequences to the Human Genome

Epidemiology Research International ◽

10.1155/2012/856810 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Julieta Trinks ◽

Adrián Gadano ◽

Pablo Argibay

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Human Genome ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Response To Therapy ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

History Of ◽

Host Genetic ◽

Epidemiology Studies

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a major worldwide public health problem. The search for the key molecular biomarkers that may provide insight on the basis of the differences in disease progression, severity, and response to therapy is crucial for understanding the natural history of HCV, for estimating the burden of infection and for developing preventive interventions. Initially, molecular epidemiology studies have focused on studying the viral genetic diversity (genotypes, genetic variants, specific nucleotide and amino acid substitutions). However, the clinical heterogeneities of HCV infection and the imperfect predictability of the response to treatment have suggested the need to search for host genetic biomarkers. This led to the discovery of genetic polymorphisms playing a major role in the evolution of infection, as well as in treatment response and adverse effects, such as IL-28B, ITPA, and IP-10. As a consequence, nowadays the focus of molecular epidemiology studies has turned from the viral to the human genome. This paper will cover recent reports on the subject describing the most relevant viral as well as host genetic risk factors analyzed by past and current HCV molecular epidemiology studies.

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