| Popis: |
Publisher Summary Studies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) variability within different compartments have yielded conflicting results. Some have found significant differences in variants within the liver, serum, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), while others have not. Large numbers of HCV clones from each isolate are sequenced in the chapter. Based on these detailed studies, significant differences in HCV quasispecies within the liver and serum were not found. Minor variants may be generated by nucleotide substitutions occurring because of lack of fidelity of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA (RdRp) polymerase or perhaps by the selection of variants, either by immune pressure or functional efficiency. An important implication of this finding is that it is acceptable for future studies of HCV-quasispecies diversity using serum from infected individuals rather than having to rely on the more difficult to obtain liver tissue compartments. |
