Quasispecies in viral persistence and pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. This RNA virus circulates as a quasispecies and its genetic heterogeneity has been implicated in the lack of protective immunity against HCV and in its persistence following infection. HCV might escape from immune surveillance by developing mutations in proteins that are subject to immune pressure.
Forns
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Hepatitis Viruses Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Purcell
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Bukh
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D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D019562:Viral Load