Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies
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 fail...
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2213 |
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| author | Josep Gregori Marta Ibañez-Lligoña Sergi Colomer-Castell Carolina Campos Damir García-Cehic Josep Quer |
| author_facet | Josep Gregori Marta Ibañez-Lligoña Sergi Colomer-Castell Carolina Campos Damir García-Cehic Josep Quer |
| author_sort | Josep Gregori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de900dd929b04ca6ac072504e2534cd5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-de900dd929b04ca6ac072504e2534cd52025-08-20T02:04:59ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-10-011211221310.3390/microorganisms12112213Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a QuasispeciesJosep Gregori0Marta Ibañez-Lligoña1Sergi Colomer-Castell2Carolina Campos3Damir García-Cehic4Josep Quer5Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, SpainLiver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, SpainLiver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, SpainLiver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USALiver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, SpainViral 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2213quasispecies diversityquasispecies maturityquasispecies fitnessfibrosisliver damageantiviral treatment failure |
| spellingShingle | Josep Gregori Marta Ibañez-Lligoña Sergi Colomer-Castell Carolina Campos Damir García-Cehic Josep Quer Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies Microorganisms quasispecies diversity quasispecies maturity quasispecies fitness fibrosis liver damage antiviral treatment failure |
| title | Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies |
| title_full | Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies |
| title_fullStr | Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies |
| title_short | Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies |
| title_sort | association of liver damage and quasispecies maturity in chronic hcv patients the fate of a quasispecies |
| topic | quasispecies diversity quasispecies maturity quasispecies fitness fibrosis liver damage antiviral treatment failure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2213 |
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