Evolutionary characteristics and immune mutation of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b among intravenous drug users in mainland, China

China is one of the countries with the heaviest burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide, especially subtype 1b. To better control hepatitis C, insights into the characteristics of dynamic spread and genomic mutations are urgently needed. We retrieved sequences of HCV-1b NS5B among intravenous drug users (IDUs) and general people (Non-IDUs) in China from 2000 to 2011 in NCBI. Bayesian phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were used to evaluate the transmission dynamics of HCV-1b. Non-synonymous substitutions were detected to illustrate immune adaptation. Evolutionary history demonstrated that HCV-1b effective population size experienced a sharp increase in 1990. HCV-1b sequences among IDUs had a higher estimated evolutionary rate (5.7185 × 10^-3  substitutions/site/year) than overall (7.7332 × 10^-4 ). 105/136 (77.2%) of HCV-1b sequences clustered into 38 networks. The average non-synonymous HCV-1b immune epitopes among IDUs were 0.211, higher than non-IDUs, especially in the HLA-A*02 molecular recognition region. All of these posed significant challenges for the prevention and treatment of HCV. Heterogeneity and genetic linkages of HCV-1b suggest that evolutionary surveillance of HCV in cities in east-central China and among IDUs could not be neglected.

Epstein-Barr virus and risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite the numerous publications regarding the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in breast cancer development, the topic has still remained controversial. The aim of the meta-analysis was to estimate the overall prevalence of EBV in the breast cancer population, and to investigate the association between EBV and breast cancer risk. The overall prevalence of EBV was calculated 26.37% (95% CI: 22-31%) from the 44 included studies. Meta-analysis of 30 case-control studies showed that the pooled association between EBV and risk of breast cancer is odds ratio 4.74 (95% CI: 2.92-7.69; Z = 6.30; p < 0.0001). Our analyses indicate a strong statistical relationship between EBV infection and risk of breast cancer, suggesting a potential role of EBV infection in the development of breast cancer.

Clinical value of hepatitis C virus core antigen levels in monitoring acute hepatitis C spontaneous clearance or treatment-induced clearance

BACKGROUND AND AIM

To observe the clinical value of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen (HCcAg) levels in monitoring acute HCV infection in patients with spontaneous clearance (SC) or clearance induced by antiviral therapy.

METHODS

Patients with iatrogenic HCV infection (n = 104) were enrolled at the Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, between 5 February 2013 and 3 April 2013. All cases were diagnosed with acute HCV infection, enrolled within 90 days of infection, and followed for 12 to 16 weeks. Blood was collected every month. HCV RNA and HCcAg levels were detected. From week 16, patients without SC were treated with pegylated-interferon and the HCV RNA and HCcAg levels were observed monthly. Follow-up was 7.5 (5.0 to 10.4) months. The Spearman correlation analysis was performed to determine the correlation between HCV RNA and HCcAg. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association of baseline HCV RNA and HCcAg levels with SC.

RESULTS

Ten patients (9.62%) showed SC, with a negative conversion time of 57 (14 to 143) days. During follow-up, HCV RNA and HCcAg expression levels were positively correlated for each patient (except on the sixth month), but the levels of HCV RNA and HCcAg were not associated with HCV infection SC.

CONCLUSIONS

HCcAg levels could be of value for monitoring the course early HCV infection, but could not predict SC of HCV infection.

Association of Toll-Like Receptor 3 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) plays a key role in innate immunity by recognizing pathogenic, double-stranded RNAs. Thus, activation of TLR3 is a major factor in antiviral defense and tumor eradication. Although downregulation of TLR3 gene expression has been mainly reported in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), the influence of TLR3 genotype on the risk of HCV infection, HCV-related cirrhosis, and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be determined. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the TLR3 gene and their associations with HCV-related disease risk were investigated in a Saudi Arabian population in this study. Eight TLR3 SNPs were analyzed in 563 patients with HCV, which consisted of 437 patients with chronic HCV infections, 88 with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis, and 38 with HCC. A total of 599 healthy control subjects were recruited to the study. Among the eight TLR3 SNPs studied, the rs78726532 SNP was strongly associated with HCV infection when compared to that in healthy control subjects. The rs5743314 was also strongly associated with HCV-related liver disease progression (cirrhosis and HCC). In summary, these results indicate that distinct genetic variants of TLR3 SNPs are associated with HCV infection and HCV-mediated liver disease progression in the Saudi Arabian population.

The structural HCV genes delivered by MPG cell penetrating peptide are directed to enhance immune responses in mice model

One of the significant problems in vaccination projects is the lack of an effective vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV). The goal of the current study is to evaluate and compare two DNA constructs encoding HCV core and coreE1E2 genes alone or complexed with MPG peptide as a delivery system for stimulation of antibody responses and IFN-γ secretion in Balb/c mice model. Indeed, MPG cell penetrating peptide was used to improve DNA immunization in mice. Our results demonstrated that MPG forms stable non-covalent nanoparticles with pcDNA-core and pcDNA-coreE1E2 at an N/P ratio of 10:1. The in vitro transfection efficiency of core or coreE1E2 DNA using MPG and TurboFect delivery systems was confirmed by western blot analysis. The results indicated the expression of the full-length core (∼21 kDa), and coreE1E2 (∼83 kDa) proteins using an anti-His monoclonal antibody. In addition, the expression of HCV core and coreE1E2 proteins was performed in bacteria and the purified recombinant proteins were injected to mice with Montanide 720 adjuvant. Our data showed that the immunized mice with HCV core and coreE1E2 proteins generated the mixture of sera IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes considerably higher than other groups. Furthermore, DNA constructs encoding core and coreE1E2 complexed with MPG could significantly induce IFN-γ secretion in lower concentrations than the naked core and coreE1E2 DNAs. Taken together, the DNA formulations as well as protein regimens used in this study triggered high-level IFN-γ production in mice, an important feature for the development of Th1 immune responses.

Hepatitis C virus prevalence and genotyping among hepatocellular carcinoma patients in Baghdad

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause for cancer death in the world, now being especially linked to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This case-control study consisting of 65 HCC patients and 82 patients with other malignant tumours as controls was conducted to determine the association of HCV markers with HCC. Serum of each participant was obtained for detection of HCV Ab and RNA by DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA). Twenty six per cent (26.0%) of HCC patients had positive anti-HCV which was significantly greater than the control group (p=0.001). HCC patients significantly have a risk of exposure to HCV infection almost 3 times than the control group (OR=2.87, 95% C.I=1.1-7). Anti-HCV seropositive rate was significantly (p=0.03) higher among old age HCC patients and increases with age. Males with HCC significantly showed to have more than 9 times risk of exposure to HCV infection (OR=9.375, 95 % CI=1.299-67.647) than females. HCV-RNA seropositive rate was (70.8%) significantly higher among HCC patients compared to (22.2%) the control group (p=0.019). The most prevalent genotype (as a single or mixed pattern of infection) was HCV- 1b. This study detected a significantly higher HCV seropositive rate of antibodies and RNA in HCC patients.