title: A new subtype of hepatitis C virus genotype 1: complete genome and phylogenetic relationships of an Equatorial Guinea isolate.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there have been few studies on the distribution and genetic diversity of HCV isolates in non-developed countries. Here, the complete genome sequence of an HCV genotype 1 isolate from Equatorial Guinea is reported, the first complete HCV-1 genome of African origin. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this sequence always grouped with sequences of genotype 1, but did not group clearly with any subtype described so far. An analysis of partial NS5B gene sequences with additional sequences of African origin also failed to find close similarities between the new sequence and any previously known isolate. Genetic divergence of the coding region of this new sequence with respect to the recognized subtypes of HCV-1 ranged from 20 to 22%. It is proposed that this isolate is a representative of a new, distinct variant of HCV subtype 1.
authors.affiliation: Institut 'Cavanilles' de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, 46070 València, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Alma
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bracho
authors.affiliation: Institut 'Cavanilles' de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, 46070 València, Spain.
authors.forename: Francy Yolima
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Carrillo-Cruz
authors.affiliation: Hospital General Universitari, Avinguda Tres Creus s/n, 46014 València, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: Institut 'Cavanilles' de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, 46070 València, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moya
authors.affiliation: Institut 'Cavanilles' de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, 46070 València, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González-Candelas
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016703:Equatorial Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral