title: Diversification of hepatitis C viruses in South America reveals a novel genetic lineage.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has high genomic variability and, since its discovery, at least six different types and an increasing number of sub-types have been reported. Genotype 1 is the most prevalent genotype found in South America. Recent phylogenetic analysis of strains isolated in Uruguay revealed the presence of a different genetic lineage from major sub-types 1a and 1b. In order to study if type 1 HCV strains circulating in the South American region can be associated with this genetic lineage, sequence data obtained from the 5' non-coding region from 6 type 1 patients from Chile, were compared with sequences obtained from 12 type 1 Uruguayan and 9 type 1 Brazilian patients as well as 17 different strains of all types isolated elsewhere. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of type 1 strains of this novel genetic lineage in all South American countries studied, and indicates a diversification of HCV viruses in the South American region.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Hematología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colina
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uriarte
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mogdasy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cristina
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions