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

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 3; p. e0248249
• Main Authors: Rajhi, Mouna, Haddad-Boubaker, Sondes, Chouikha, Anissa, Bourquain, Daniel, Michel, Janine, Hammami, Walid, Sadraoui, Amel, Touzi, Hinda, Ghedira, Kais, Triki, Henda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 11-03-2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Bioinformatics; Biology and life sciences; Computer and Information Sciences; Computer programs; Data analysis; Discovery and exploration; Earth Sciences; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Editing; Epidemiology; Gene sequencing; Genetic diversity; Genomes; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Health problems; Hepatitis; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; Identification and classification; Laboratories; Measles; Medicine and health sciences; Methodology; Pathogens; People and Places; Phylogenetics; Physiological aspects; Poliomyelitis; Public health; Regions; Research and Analysis Methods; RNA viruses; Software; Virology; Viruses; Tunisia; Germany
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248249

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a high genetic diversity. Eight genotypes and 90 subtypes are currently described. Genotypes are clinically significant for therapeutic management and their determination is necessary for epidemiological studies.
Tunisian patients plasma samples (n = 6) with unassigned HCV-2 subtype using partial sequencing in the NS5B and Core/E1 regions were analyzed by realizing whole-genome sequencing analysis. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to assign subtypes.
Phylogenetic analysis of the full genome sequences of Tunisian strains shows two subtypes within HCV-2. These later were genetically distinct from all previously established HCV-2 subtypes with nucleotide divergence greater than 15% (20% -31%). These two subtypes are proposed as new subtypes 2v and 2w.
The discovery of two new HCV-2 subtypes circulating in the Tunisian population confirms the great diversity of HCV-2 viruses and increases the total number of HCV-2 subtypes from 21 to 23.