Molecular analysis of HCV type 1 to 5 envelope gene: application to investigations of posttransfusion transmission of HCV.
BACKGROUND
Until 1990, HCV infection was common in transfused patients, resulting in more than 200,000 cases of posttransfusion hepatitis C in France alone. A molecular method that permits the investigation of posttransfusion hepatitis C infections is presented.


METHODS
Viral sequences in the envelope region of HCV were obtained for 12 pairs of blood recipients and their respective blood donors. The HCV strains studied belonged to types 1 (subtypes 1a and 1b), 2, 3, 4, and 5. Genetic distances and mutation rates were determined, and sequences were submitted to phylogenetic analysis along with sequences retrieved from nucleotide databases.


RESULTS
Pairwise distances in the donor-recipient pairs were found to be less than 0.05 mutation per site, which corresponds to a mutation rate ranging from 0.6 x 10(-3) to 2.1 x 10(-3) per site per year. Sequences obtained from the 12 donor-recipient pairs clustered in 12 monophyletic nests.


CONCLUSIONS
The genetic analysis of the envelope region of HCV can be used for the forensic evaluation of virus transmission. It permits the refutation of a link between blood transfusion and HCV transmission, rather than proof of the existence of such a link.
Cantaloube
J
J
Department of Molecular Biology, French Blood Establishment Alpes-Méditerranée and Department of Molecular, Tropical, and Transfusional Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Marseille, France. jfc-ets-ap@mail.gulliver.fr
Venault
H
H
Zappitelli
J
J
Gallian
P
P
Touinssi
M
M
Attoui
H
H
Biagini
P
P
de Lamballerie
X
X
de Micco
P
P
D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins