title: Biomedical Mutation Analysis (BMA): A software tool for analyzing mutations associated with antiviral resistance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered a major public health problem, with 200 million people infected worldwide. The treatment for HCV chronic infection with pegylated interferon alpha plus ribavirin inhibitors is unspecific; consequently, the treatment is effective in only 50% of patients infected. This has prompted the development of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) that target virus proteins. These DAA have demonstrated a potent effect in vitro and in vivo; however, virus mutations associated with the development of resistance have been described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To design and develop an online information system for detecting mutations in amino acids known to be implicated in resistance to DAA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have used computer applications, technological tools, standard languages, infrastructure systems and algorithms, to analyze positions associated with resistance to DAA for the NS3, NS5A, and NS5B genes of HCV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have designed and developed an online information system named Biomedical Mutation Analysis (BMA), which allows users to calculate changes in nucleotide and amino acid sequences for each selected sequence from conventional Sanger and cloning sequencing using a graphical interface.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMA quickly, easily and effectively analyzes mutations, including complete documentation and examples. Furthermore, the development of different visualization techniques allows proper interpretation and understanding of the results. The data obtained using BMA will be useful for the assessment and surveillance of HCV resistance to new antivirals, and for the treatment regimens by selecting those DAA to which the virus is not resistant, avoiding unnecessary treatment failures. The software is available at: http://bma.itiud.org.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Exact, Chemical and Natural Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Posadas, Argentina.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salvatierra
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technology, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Florez
keywords: Hepatitis C virus; information system; mutations; resistance