title: The Core/E1 domain of hepatitis C virus genotype 4a in Egypt does not contain viral mutations or strains specific for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a well-documented etiological factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As HCV shows remarkable genetic diversity, an interesting and important issue is whether such a high viral genetic diversity plays a role in the incidence of HCC. Prior data on this subject are conflicting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Potential association between HCV genetic mutations or strain variability and HCC incidence has been examined through a comparative genetic analysis merely focused on a single HCV subtype (genotype 4a) in a single country (Egypt).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study focused on three HCV sequence datasets with explicit sampling dates and disease patterns. An overlapping HCV Core/E1 domain from three datasets was used as the target for comparative analysis through genetic and phylogenetic approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on partial Core/E1 domain (387 bp), genetic and phylogenetic analysis did not identify any HCC-specific viral mutations and strains, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Core/E1 domain of HCV genotype 4a in Egypt does not contain HCC-specific mutations or strains. Additionally, sequence errors resulting from the polymerase chain reaction, together with a strong evolutionary pressure on HCV in patients with end-stage liver disease, have significant potential to bias data generation and interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Soo Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Yanjuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tamerl
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elbaz
authors.forename: Abdel-Rahman N
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zekri
authors.forename: Ashraf Omar
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdel-Hamid
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thiers
authors.forename: Santiago F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Elena
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Adrian M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Di Bisceglie
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus