title: Analysis of genetic heterogeneity of hepatitis C viruses in Central America reveals a novel genetic lineage. Brief report.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has high genomic variability and at least six different types have been reported. The genotypes distribution is currently unknown among HCV strains circulating in Central America. In order to study the degree of genetic variability of strains isolated in Costa Rica, sequence data obtained from the 5' non coding region from 7 patients from Costa Rica were compared with published sequences from 57 strains of all types. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of type 1 strains of a novel genetic lineage, recently described for some South American countries, and indicates an increasing diversification of HCV.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital San Juan de Dios, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: San Román
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lezama
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colina
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cristina
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000737:chemistry; D001483:Base Sequence; D002489:Central America; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions