Changes in the Distribution Pattern of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes Among Chronic Hepatitis Patients: a Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver diseases. It has been determined that HCV genotypes have a distinct geographical distribution, clinical outcome, and response to antiviral therapy. Over the past years, many studies have reported that HCV genotype 1a is the dominant genotype in Ahvaz city. In recent years, changes in the distribution pattern of HCV genotypes of different geographical regions have attracted a great deal of attention; hence, the aim of this study was to accurately evaluate such probable changes in Ahvaz in southwestern Iran. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from September 2017 to August 2020, including 262 patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C. HCV-RNA was extracted, and HCV genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) method. To evaluate the association between HCV genotype, age, gender, and viral load, statistical analyses were done by SPSS software. RESULTS: HCV genotyping was done on 260 patients where genotype 3a had the highest prevalence over the period of 4 years with an average of 48.1%, followed by genotype 1a (46.5%). HCV genotype of two patients was not typeable. Although the difference between the two genotypes is currently small, the main result was finding an increasing trend in the prevalence of genotype 3a in recent years. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the distribution pattern of HCV genotypes is gradually changing among chronic hepatitis C patients in Ahvaz city. The most important cause of such changes could be the alteration in HCV transmission routes and the increase in migration from areas where genotype 3 is dominant.

The Effects of Human Reoviruses on Cancer Cells Derived from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer around the world. Since this cancer is highly resistant to the existing treatments, we used a novel method, which selectively targets HCC cancer cells to improve the treatment process. As normal cells are resistant to reovirus replication, we used oncolytic reoviruses, which can infect, replicate in, and destroy cancer cells. In this study, the effects of oncolytic human reoviruses on cancer cells, derived from HCC biopsies, were investigated. METHODS: First, reoviruses were purified. Then a plaque assay was performed to estimate the number of viruses and determine the multiplicity of infection (MOI). To evaluate the effects of reoviruses on cancer cells derived from HCC biopsies, replication of reovirus RNA, viral protein production, cytopathic effects (CPE), and cancer cell viability were assessed at different intervals post-infection. RESULTS: Replication of reovirus RNA and viral protein production were detected in cancer cells. Also, different levels of viral protein production, CPE, cytotoxicity, and cancer cell viability were observed at different intervals post-infection with human reoviruses. In contrast, normal human fibroblasts, which were used as negative control, remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, the effects of human reoviruses on HCC biopsies were investigated. The results showed that human reoviruses could replicate in and destroy cancer cells derived from HCC biopsies. Overall, human reoviruses can be potentially used for the treatment of HCC.