Experimental infection of chimpanzees with hepatitis C virus of genotype 5a: genetic analysis of the virus and generation of a standardized challenge pool.
Six major genotypes (genotypes 1-6) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been identified. These genetic variants are being transmitted to chimpanzees, the only recognized animal model for the study of HCV. Genotype 5a (strain SA13), a variant found primarily in South Africa, has been transmitted to chimpanzees for the first time. Experimental infection of 2 chimpanzees was characterized by early appearance of viremia and peak virus titers of 10(5)-10(6) genome equivalents/mL. The HCV infection was resolved by week 15 after inoculation in 1 chimpanzee and persisted in the other. Both chimpanzees became anti-HCV-positive by week 14 after inoculation. Both chimpanzees developed viral hepatitis. The infectivity titer of a genotype 5a challenge pool prepared from the first passage of HCV in a chimpanzee was approximately 10(4) infectious doses/mL. Finally, sequence analysis of strain SA13 confirmed that genotype 5a is genetically distinct from other genotypes of HCV.
Bukh
J
J
Hepatitis Viruses Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda 20892-0740, USA. jbukh@atlas.niaid.nih.gov
Apgar
C L
CL
Engle
R
R
Govindarajan
S
S
Hegerich
P A
PA
Tellier
R
R
Wong
D C
DC
Elkins
R
R
Kew
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D010802:Phylogeny; D012015:Reference Standards; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014766:Viremia
D014764:Viral Proteins