title: Evolving Diversity of Hepatitis C Viruses in Yunnan Honghe, China.
abstract: The Chinese Honghe Autonomous Prefecture (Honghe) in Yunnan Province is a unique ethnic area because it is inhabited by more than ten different minority ethnic groups. Geographically, Honghe directly shares a border with Vietnam. The objective of this study was to investigate genetic diversity and distribution of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Honghe. Ninety nine subjects who were infected with HCV or HCV/HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1) were recruited into this study. HCV genotypes and subtypes were determined based on the sequences of the core/envelope 1 (C/E1) and the nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) genomic regions. The viral diversity and origins of dissemination were examined by phylogenetic analyses. Three HCV genotypes (1, 3 and 6) with six subtypes (1b, 3b, 3a, 6a, 6n and 6v) were identified. The most predominant form was genotype 3 (54.6%) followed by 6 (34.3%), and 1 (9.1%). The HCV subtype 3b appeared to be the most frequent form (38.4%) followed by 6n (20.2%) and 3a (16.2%). Statistical analyses suggested a possible rise of the genotype 6a in Honghe among intravenous drug users with HCV/HIV co-infections. Further phylogenetic analyses suggested that similar HCV-6a viruses might have been circulating in the Honghe area for more than a decade, which likely originated from Vietnam or vice versa. Two HCV samples with single HCV infection (SC34 and SC45) were isolated that could represent new recombinant variants. Although the genetic prevalence of HCV in Honghe is in general agreement with that of Southwest China and Yunnan Province, the diversity of HCV genotypes and subtypes in Honghe is somewhat unique and evolving. Information presented here should provide useful information for future health surveillance and prevention of HCV infection in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Honghe, Mengzi 661100, China. emmayang2014@126.com.|Division of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21201 MD, USA. emmayang2014@126.com.
authors.forename: Lanhui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science, College of Life Science and Technology, Honghe University, Mengzi 661100, China. jcy_bilogy@126.com.
authors.forename: Chenyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Honghe, Mengzi 661100, China. Ynhhhs@126.com.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Science, College of Life Science and Technology, Honghe University, Mengzi 661100, China. 18708733380@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiongni
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Honghe, Mengzi 661100, China. 13887378618@163.com.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Honghe, Mengzi 661100, China. sw85473440@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Si
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First People's Hospital of Honghe, Mengzi 661100, China. chenmei120@163.com.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21201 MD, USA. rzhao@som.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Richard Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
keywords: China; HCV; Honghe Autonomous Prefecture; Yunnan; diversity; genotype; phylogenetic analysis; subtype