Identification of two novel hepatitis C virus subtype 2 from Tunisia (2v and 2w)

Rajhi, Mouna; Haddad-Boubaker, Sondès; Chouikha, Anissa; Bourquain, Daniel; Michel, Janine; Hammami, Walid; Sadraoui, A.; Touzi, Hinda; Ghedira, Kaïs; Triki, Henda

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0248249

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 36 publications

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“…Genome sequence analysis showed eight major genotypes of HCV (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) [10,11]. Genotype characterization is not only limited to the type of therapy needed for clearance of the virus but also suggests the level and risk of disease progression [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immuno-Informatics Analysis of Pakistan-Based HCV Subtype-3a for Chimeric Polypeptide Vaccine Design

et al. 2021

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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic and acute hepatitis infections. As there is extreme variability in the HCV genome, no approved HCV vaccine has been available so far. An effective polypeptide vaccine based on the functionally conserved epitopes will be greatly helpful in curing disease. For this purpose, an immuno-informatics study is performed based on the published HCV subtype-3a from Pakistan. First, the virus genome was translated to a polyprotein followed by a subsequent prediction of T-cell epitopes. Non-allergenic, IFN-γ producer, and antigenic epitopes were shortlisted, including 5 HTL epitopes and 4 CTL, which were linked to the final vaccine by GPGPG and AAY linkers, respectively. Beta defensin was included as an adjuvant through the EAAAK linker to improve the immunogenicity of the polypeptide. To ensure its safety and immunogenicity profile, antigenicity, allergenicity, and various physiochemical attributes of the polypeptide were evaluated. Molecular docking was conducted between TLR4 and vaccine to evaluate the binding affinity and molecular interactions. For stability assessment and binding of the vaccine-TLR4 docked complex, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and MMGBSA binding free-energy analyses were conducted. Finally, the candidate vaccine was cloned in silico to ensure its effectiveness. The current vaccine requires future experimental confirmation to validate its effectiveness. The vaccine construct produced might be useful in providing immune protection against HCV-related infections.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immuno-Informatics Analysis of Pakistan-Based HCV Subtype-3a for Chimeric Polypeptide Vaccine Design

et al. 2021

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Overview of the epidemic history of Hepatitis C uncommon subtypes 2i and 4d in Tunisia and in the world

Khedhiri

Ghedira²,

Rajhi³

et al. 2022

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

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Association of hepatitis C virus genotype 2 spread with historic slave trade and commerce routes in Western Africa

et al. 2022

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The hepatitis C virus genotype 2 (HCV2) is endemic in Western and Central Africa. The HCV2 evolutionary origins remain uncertain due to the paucity of available genomes from African settings. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of HCV infections in rural Guinea, Western Africa, during 2004 and 2014. Broadly reactive nested RT-PCR-based screening of sera from 1,571 asymptomatic adults resulted in the detection of 25 (1.5%, 95% CI 0.9-2.3) positive samples, with a median viral load of 2.54E+05 IU/mL (IQR 6.72E+05). HCV-infected persons had a median age of 47 years and 62.5% were male and 37.5% female. The full polyprotein-encoding genes were retrieved by a combination of high throughput and Sanger sequencing from 17 samples showing sufficiently high viral loads. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence distances ≥13% averaged over the polyprotein genes compared to other HCV2 subtypes revealed 9 previously unknown HCV2 subtypes. The time to the most recent common ancestor of the Guinean HCV2 strains inferred in a Bayesian framework was 493 years (95% HPD 453-532). Most of the Guinean strains clustered poorly by location both on the level of sampling sites within Guinea and the level of countries in the phylogenetic reconstructions. Ancestral state reconstruction provided decisive support (Bayes factor >100) for an origin of HCV2 in Western Africa. Phylogeographic reconstructions in a Bayesian framework pointed to a radial diffusion of HCV2 from Western African regions encompassing today’s countries like Ghana, Guinea Bissau, or Burkina Faso, to Central and Northern African regions that took place from the 16th century onwards. The spread of HCV2 coincided in time and space with the main historic slave trade and commerce routes, supported by Bayesian tip-association significance testing (p = 0.01). Our study confirms the evolutionary origins of HCV2 in Western Africa and provides a potential link between historic human movements and HCV2 dispersion.

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Identification of two novel hepatitis C virus subtype 2 from Tunisia (2v and 2w)

Cited by 4 publications

References 36 publications

Immuno-Informatics Analysis of Pakistan-Based HCV Subtype-3a for Chimeric Polypeptide Vaccine Design

Immuno-Informatics Analysis of Pakistan-Based HCV Subtype-3a for Chimeric Polypeptide Vaccine Design

Overview of the epidemic history of Hepatitis C uncommon subtypes 2i and 4d in Tunisia and in the world

Association of hepatitis C virus genotype 2 spread with historic slave trade and commerce routes in Western Africa

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