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Viruses
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Hepatitis C Virus 2024
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Hepatitis C Virus 2024

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 6612

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Robert Flisiak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
Interests: infectious diseases; viral hepatitis; liver; COVID-19
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hepatitis C (HCV) has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the major public health problems worldwide. Hepatotropic viruses are currently estimated to be responsible for the deaths of more than one million people each year, making them comparable in mortality to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, tuberculosis, and malaria. According to recent epidemiological reports, 59 million people are living with HCV worldwide. The introduction of highly effective and safe direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has radically changed the landscape and outlook for HCV treatment. In addition, this revolution on an unprecedented scale in the history of medicine has stimulated epidemiological research and encouraged research teams to create simulations and predictions. In 2016, WHO initiated an ambitious plan to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Unfortunately, the implementation of this ambitious plan was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a reduction in the number of screening tests performed and the number of patients treated for viral hepatitis. This Special Issue of Viruses aims to provide updated information on the pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnostics, treatment, and elimination of HCV infection as a global health threat.

Prof. Dr. Robert Flisiak
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • hepatitis
  • HCV
  • liver
  • epidemiology
  • diagnostics
  • therapy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1345 KiB  
Article
Hepatitis C Virus Resistance-Associated Substitutions in Mexico
by Alexis Jose-Abrego, Saul Laguna-Meraz, Sonia Roman, Irene M. Mariscal-Martinez and Arturo Panduro
Viruses 2025, 17(2), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17020169 - 25 Jan 2025
Viewed by 566
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is susceptible to resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) in the NS3, NS5A, and NS5B nonstructural genes, key targets of the direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and distribution of RASs across different HCV subtypes in Mexico. A [...] Read more.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is susceptible to resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) in the NS3, NS5A, and NS5B nonstructural genes, key targets of the direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and distribution of RASs across different HCV subtypes in Mexico. A Genbank dataset of 566 HCV sequences was analyzed. Most sequences were from Mexico City (49.1%, 278/566) and Jalisco (39.4%, 223/566). The NS5B region was the most sequenced (59.7%, 338/566). The most frequent HCV subtypes were 1a (44.0%, 249/566), 1b (28.6%, 162/566), 2b (9.5%, 54/566), and 3a (6.2%, 35/566). Subtypes 1a (57.4%, 128/223) and 3a (12.6%, 28/223) were significantly higher in Jalisco than in Mexico City (34.2%, 95/278 and 2.5%, 7/278), whereas subtype 1b was higher in Mexico City (34.5%, 96/278 vs. 14.8%, 33/223). Subtype 1a increased from 2019 to 2024, representing 49.4% (123/249) of all reported cases. RASs were detected in NS3 (6.7%, 1/15), NS5A (2.9%, 3/102), and NS5B (0.3%, 1/349), with the most frequent mutations being Q80K, Y93H, and S282T, respectively, and detected in subtypes 1b (n = 3), 1a (n = 1), and 2a (n = 1). In conclusion, Mexico’s HCV sequencing-based surveillance is limited. Subtype 1a predominated, but frequencies varied across states. The prevalence of RASs varied by gene from 0.3% to 6.7%. Establishing regional sequencing centers for NS3, NS5A, and NS5B is crucial to monitoring Mexico’s DAA-resistant mutations and HCV subtype genetic diversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis C Virus 2024)
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24 pages, 2915 KiB  
Article
Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Infection from Patient Sera in Cell Culture Using Semi-Automated Image Analysis
by Noemi Schäfer, Paul Rothhaar, Christian Heuss, Christoph Neumann-Haefelin, Robert Thimme, Julia Dietz, Christoph Sarrazin, Paul Schnitzler, Uta Merle, Sofía Pérez-del-Pulgar, Vibor Laketa and Volker Lohmann
Viruses 2024, 16(12), 1871; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16121871 - 30 Nov 2024
Viewed by 917
Abstract
The study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in cell culture is mainly based on cloned viral isolates requiring adaptation for efficient replication in Huh7 hepatoma cells. The analysis of wild-type (WT) isolates was enabled by the expression of SEC14L2 and by inhibitors [...] Read more.
The study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in cell culture is mainly based on cloned viral isolates requiring adaptation for efficient replication in Huh7 hepatoma cells. The analysis of wild-type (WT) isolates was enabled by the expression of SEC14L2 and by inhibitors targeting deleterious host factors. Here, we aimed to optimize cell culture models to allow infection with HCV from patient sera. We used Huh7-Lunet cells ectopically expressing SEC14L2, CD81, and a GFP reporter with nuclear translocation upon cleavage by the HCV protease to study HCV replication, combined with a drug-based regimen for stimulation of non-modified wild-type isolates. RT-qPCR-based quantification of HCV infections using patient sera suffered from a high background in the daclatasvir-treated controls. We therefore established an automated image analysis pipeline based on imaging of whole wells and iterative training of a machine learning tool, using nuclear GFP localization as a readout for HCV infection. Upon visual validation of hits assigned by the automated image analysis, the method revealed no background in daclatasvir-treated samples. Thereby, infection events were found for 15 of 34 high titer HCV genotype (gt) 1b sera, revealing a significant correlation between serum titer and successful infection. We further show that transfection of viral RNA extracted from sera can be used in this model as well, albeit with so far limited efficiency. Overall, we generated a robust serum infection assay for gt1b isolates using semi-automated image analysis, which was superior to conventional RT-qPCR-based quantification of viral genomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis C Virus 2024)
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14 pages, 1931 KiB  
Article
Hepatitis C Virus as a Possible Helper Virus in Human Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection
by Maria Grazia Crobu, Paolo Ravanini, Clotilde Impaloni, Claudia Martello, Olivia Bargiacchi, Christian Di Domenico, Giulia Faolotto, Paola Macaluso, Alessio Mercandino, Miriam Riggi, Vittorio Quaglia, Stefano Andreoni, Mario Pirisi and Carlo Smirne
Viruses 2024, 16(6), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16060992 - 20 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1650
Abstract
Previous studies reported that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) could help disseminate the hepatitis D virus (HDV) in vivo through the unrelated hepatitis B virus (HBV), but with essentially inconclusive results. To try to shed light on this still-debated topic, 146 anti-HCV-positive subjects [...] Read more.
Previous studies reported that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) could help disseminate the hepatitis D virus (HDV) in vivo through the unrelated hepatitis B virus (HBV), but with essentially inconclusive results. To try to shed light on this still-debated topic, 146 anti-HCV-positive subjects (of whom 91 HCV/HIV co-infected, and 43 with prior HCV eradication) were screened for anti-HDV antibodies (anti-HD), after careful selection for negativity to any serologic or virologic marker of current or past HBV infection. One single HCV/HIV co-infected patient (0.7%) tested highly positive for anti-HD, but with no positive HDV-RNA. Her husband, in turn, was a HCV/HIV co-infected subject with a previous contact with HBV. While conducting a thorough review of the relevant literature, the authors attempted to exhaustively describe the medical history of both the anti-HD-positive patient and her partner, believing it to be the key to dissecting the possible complex mechanisms of HDV transmission from one subject to another, and speculating that in the present case, it may have been HCV itself that behaved as an HDV helper virus. In conclusion, this preliminary research, while needing further validation in large prospective studies, provided some further evidence of a role of HCV in HDV dissemination in humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis C Virus 2024)
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Review

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24 pages, 847 KiB  
Review
Like a Rolling Stone? A Review on Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
by Piotr Rzymski, Michał Brzdęk, Krystyna Dobrowolska, Barbara Poniedziałek, Aleksandra Murawska-Ochab, Dorota Zarębska-Michaluk and Robert Flisiak
Viruses 2024, 16(9), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091386 - 30 Aug 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2586
Abstract
Elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) without the need for medical intervention, known as spontaneous clearance (SC), occurs at a significantly lower rate than in the case of hepatitis B virus infection and only in selected individuals, such as reportedly in Keith Richards, [...] Read more.
Elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) without the need for medical intervention, known as spontaneous clearance (SC), occurs at a significantly lower rate than in the case of hepatitis B virus infection and only in selected individuals, such as reportedly in Keith Richards, a guitarist of The Rolling Stones. The present paper provides an updated narrative review of the research devoted to the phenomenon in order to identify and discuss the demographic, lifestyle-related, clinical, viral genotype-related, and host genetic factors underpinning the SC occurrence. The body of evidence indicates that the likelihood of SC is decreased in older individuals, men, Black people, HIV-coinfected subjects, and intravenous drug and alcohol users. In turn, HBV coinfection and specific polymorphism of the genes encoding interferon lambda 3 (particularly at rs8099917) and interferon lambda 4 (particularly at rs12979860) and HLA genes increase the odds of SC. Numerous other host-specific genetic factors could be implicated in SC, but the evidence is limited only to certain ethnic groups and often does not account for confounding variables. SC of HCV infection is a complex process arising from a combination of various factors, though a genetic component may play a leading role in some cases. Understanding factors influencing the likelihood of this phenomenon justifies better surveillance of high-risk groups, decreasing health inequities in particular ethnic groups, and may guide the development of a prophylactic vaccine, which at present is not available, or novel therapeutic strategies. Further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying SC and to explore potential interventions that could enhance this natural antiviral response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis C Virus 2024)
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