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Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies
- Source :
- Microorganisms, Vol 12, Iss 11, p 2213 (2024)
- Publication Year :
- 2024
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2024.
-
Abstract
- Viral diversity and disease progression in chronic infections, and particularly how quasispecies structure affects antiviral treatment, remain key unresolved issues. Previous studies show that advanced liver fibrosis in long-term viral infections is linked to higher rates of antiviral treatment failures. Additionally, treatment failure is associated with high quasispecies fitness, which indicates greater viral diversity and adaptability. As a result, resistant variants may emerge, reducing retreatment effectiveness and increasing the chances of viral relapse. Additionally, using a mutagenic agent in monotherapy can accelerate virus evolution towards a flat-like quasispecies structure. This study examines 19 chronic HCV patients who failed direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments, using NGS to analyze quasispecies structure in relation to fibrosis as a marker of infection duration. Results show that HCV evolves towards a flat-like quasispecies structure over time, leading also to advanced liver damage (fibrosis F3 and F4/cirrhosis). Based on our findings and previous research, we propose that the flat-like fitness quasispecies structure is the final stage of any quasispecies in chronic infections unless eradicated. The longer the infection persists, the lower the chances of achieving a cure. Interestingly, this finding may also be applicable to other chronic infection and drug resistance in cancer.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20762607
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Microorganisms
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.900dd929b04ca6ac072504e2534cd5
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112213