title: Emergence of genetically variant Hepatitis C virus population in response to increased antiviral drug pressure, Pakistan.
abstract: Mutations in NS5B gene of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reported in patients undergoing antiviral therapy. In the present study, we report emerging clade of HCV-3a in patients administered with IFN plus ribavirin therapy for 24 weeks and having low viral loads (<250 IU/mL). Mutations D/N244E, K304R, N/K307G, Q/T329V, and A338V were found associated with these emerging strains. This distinct HCV could be associated with the increased antiviral drug pressure.
authors: Division of Molecular Virology, National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal bank Road, Thokar Niaz baig, Lahore, 53700, Pakistan, ali_biotech01@yahoo.com.
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Ali
authors: Irshad Ur
authors: IU
authors: Rehman
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Idrees
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D010154:Pakistan; D010802:Phylogeny; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons; D012254:Ribavirin; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase