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2.
New Microbiol ; 47(2): 172-179, 2024 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39023527

ABSTRACT

Italy is recognized as having the highest Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in Europe. The Tuscany region, where the prevalence of HCV infection is approximately 0.8%, implemented two programs for the control of chronic hepatitis C in Tuscany from 2018 to 2022. This retrospective study aims to investigate the incidence of HCV in a population screened in Southeastern Tuscany from 2013 to 2022. The study population included 246,137 patients from the provincial area of Arezzo and Grosseto, Tuscany, spanning from January 2013 to October 2022. Among the subjects included in the study, 3,190 (1.29%) tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Of this population, 2,119 patients (66.43%) also tested positive for HCV-RNA quantification, leading to their enrolment for subsequent viral genotyping. 1,106 patients had genotype (GT) 1 (52.2%), 484 had GT 3 (22.8%), 371 had GT 2 (17.5%), and 158 had GT 4 (7.5%). Our study underscores the prevalence of HCV GTs 1 and 3 as the most predominant GTs in the Southeast Tuscany region. We also observe a correlation between age, sex and HCV genotypic distribution.


Subject(s)
Genotype , Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepacivirus/isolation & purification , Hepacivirus/classification , Retrospective Studies , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Adult , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/virology , Aged , Young Adult , Prevalence , Adolescent , Aged, 80 and over , Child
3.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1403769, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38947319

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Follicular helper T cells are essential for helping in the maturation of B cells and the production of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) during primary viral infections. However, their role during recall responses is unclear. Here, we used hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection in humans as a model to study the recall collaborative interaction between circulating CD4 T follicular helper cells (cTfh) and memory B cells (MBCs) leading to the generation of NAbs. Methods: We evaluated this interaction longitudinally in subjects who have spontaneously resolved primary HCV infection during a subsequent reinfection episode that resulted in either another spontaneous resolution (SR/SR, n = 14) or chronic infection (SR/CI, n = 8). Results: Both groups exhibited virus-specific memory T cells that expanded upon reinfection. However, early expansion of activated cTfh (CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ICOS+FoxP3-) occurred in SR/SR only. The frequency of activated cTfh negatively correlated with time post-infection. Concomitantly, NAbs and HCV-specific MBCs (CD19+CD27+IgM-E2-Tet+) peaked during the early acute phase in SR/SR but not in SR/CI. Finally, the frequency of the activated cTfh1 (CXCR3+CCR6-) subset correlated with the neutralization breadth and potency of NAbs. Conclusion: These results underscore a key role for early activation of cTfh1 cells in helping antigen-specific B cells to produce NAbs that mediate the clearance of HCV reinfection.


Subject(s)
Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C , Memory B Cells , Reinfection , T Follicular Helper Cells , Humans , Hepacivirus/immunology , T Follicular Helper Cells/immunology , Male , Female , Hepatitis C/immunology , Hepatitis C/virology , Memory B Cells/immunology , Adult , Middle Aged , Reinfection/immunology , Reinfection/virology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , Immunologic Memory , Hepatitis C Antibodies/immunology , Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis C, Chronic/immunology , Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology , Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
4.
BMJ Open ; 14(6): e085506, 2024 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38950989

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a global health challenge. By the end of 2021, the WHO estimated that less than a quarter of global HCV infections had been diagnosed. There is a need for a public health tool that can facilitate the identification of people with HCV infection and link them to testing and treatment, and that can be customised for each country. METHODS: We derived and validated a risk score to identify people with HCV in Egypt and demonstrated its utility. Using data from the 2008 and 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys, two risk scores were constructed through multivariable logistic regression analysis. A range of diagnostic metrics was then calculated to evaluate the performance of these scores. RESULTS: The 2008 and 2014 risk scores exhibited similar dependencies on sex, age and type of place of residence. Both risk scores demonstrated high and similar areas under the curve of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.76 to 0.78) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.77 to 0.80), respectively. For the 2008 risk score, sensitivity was 73.7% (95% CI: 71.5% to 75.9%), specificity was 68.5% (95% CI: 67.5% to 69.4%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 27.8% (95% CI: 26.4% to 29.2%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 94.1% (95% CI: 93.5% to 94.6%). For the 2014 risk score, sensitivity was 64.0% (95% CI: 61.5% to 66.6%), specificity was 78.2% (95% CI: 77.5% to 78.9%), PPV was 22.2% (95% CI: 20.9% to 23.5%) and NPV was 95.7% (95% CI: 95.4% to 96.1%). Each score was validated by applying it to a different survey database than the one used to derive it. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of HCV risk scores is an effective strategy to identify carriers of HCV infection and to link them to testing and treatment at low cost to national programmes.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis C , Humans , Egypt/epidemiology , Female , Male , Cross-Sectional Studies , Adult , Middle Aged , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/diagnosis , Young Adult , Risk Assessment/methods , Adolescent , Risk Factors , Logistic Models , Aged , Sensitivity and Specificity
5.
Rev Bras Epidemiol ; 27: e240033, 2024.
Article in English, Portuguese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38958369

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the probability of infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses in different socioeconomic strata of the population of Recife, Northeast Brazil. METHODS: Study carried out from samples obtained in a survey of residents of a large urban center that had a population base and stratified sampling with random selection of households using the "Brazil Sample" package in the R software. HBV (HBsAg) and anti-HCV was performed using immunochromatographic tests. In cases positive for HBsAg, anti-HBc and HBeAg were tested using chemiluminescence, as well as HBV-DNA using real-time PCR. For cases positive for anti-HCV, the search for this antibody was repeated by chemiluminescence and for HCV-RNA by real-time PCR. The occurrence of HBsAg and anti-HCV cases in the general population was estimated based on a theoretical negative binomial distribution. RESULTS: Among 2,070 samples examined, 5 (0.24%) were HBsAg and 2 (0.1%) anti-HCV positive. The majority of cases had self-reported skin color as black/brown (6/7), education level up to high school (6/7), a steady partner (5/7) and lived in an area of low socioeconomic status (5/7). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of HBsAg and anti-HCV was lower than those previously found in population-based studies and slightly lower than the most recent estimates. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status should be a priority target of public health policies.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis B , Hepatitis C , Socioeconomic Factors , Humans , Brazil/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Female , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Adolescent , Young Adult , Child
6.
Afr Health Sci ; 24(1): 16-24, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38962339

ABSTRACT

Background: Most studies on viral infections among livestock handlers have focused on occupational exposure from inadvertent contact with infected animals. Consequently, little emphasis is given to the effect of their lifestyle on the acquisition of other blood-borne viruses. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and assess risk factors for HIV, HBV and HCV infections among livestock handlers in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 265 livestock handlers between October 2016 to April 2017 in Ibadan. The samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV and HCV; and surface antigen to HBV using ELISA. Structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on risk factors associated with the transmission of these viruses. Data analysis was carried out using Chi-square test and logistic regression to determine the association between risk factors and predictors of infection (p < 0.05). Results: Of 265 participants, 11 (4.2%), 29 (10.9%) and 13 (4.9%) individuals tested positive for HIV, HBV and HCV infections respectively. Two (0.8%) of the participants were coinfected with HIV and HBV while 1(0.4%) was coinfected with both HBV and HCV. Individuals who travelled frequently in the course of Livestock trades had a higher rate of HIV infection. Conclusions: A high Infection with HIV, HBV and HCV is common among the study participants. There is a need for continued surveillance and awareness creation on preventive measures against these viruses.


Subject(s)
Abattoirs , HIV Infections , Hepatitis B , Hepatitis C , Livestock , Occupational Exposure , Humans , Nigeria/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Male , Adult , Prevalence , Female , Animals , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Middle Aged , Livestock/virology , Risk Factors , Cross-Sectional Studies , Young Adult , Hepacivirus/isolation & purification , Surveys and Questionnaires , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Coinfection/epidemiology
7.
Afr Health Sci ; 24(1): 94-103, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38962345

ABSTRACT

Background: The current risk of contracting a transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) is unknown in Burundi. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess sociodemographic profiles of blood bank donors at Kamenge Teaching Hospital, the prevalence and associated risk factors of HIV, syphilis, HBV and HCV from 2015 to 2020. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including all blood donors of Kamenge Teaching Hospital blood bank. During this study, 1370 blood samples were screened for HIV, Syphilis, HBV and HCV. We calculated prevalence of TTIs and performed logistic regression to know associated risk factors. Results: Blood donors were males at 77% and 23% females. They were mostly students (54.2%). On screening, 83 blood samples (6.06%) were seropositive for at least one TTI. The overall prevalence rate of HIV, Syphilis, HBV and HCV among blood donors was 1.3%, 0.2% ,1.6%, 2.9% respectively. There was difference in distribution of the four TTIs among blood donors which is statistically significant (x2=33.997, ϱ-value<0.001). Private donors were associated with a high risk of syphilis and being a first-time donor was associated with a high HBV risk factor. Conclusion: The prevalence of TTIs found still to be high; mandatory and continuous screening is necessary.


Subject(s)
Blood Banks , Blood Donors , HIV Infections , Hepatitis B , Hepatitis C , Hospitals, Teaching , Syphilis , Humans , Male , Female , Blood Donors/statistics & numerical data , Burundi/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Adult , Prevalence , Syphilis/epidemiology , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/transmission , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/transmission , Blood Banks/statistics & numerical data , Risk Factors , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Transfusion Reaction/epidemiology , Adolescent
8.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 15145, 2024 07 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38956134

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a plus-stranded RNA virus that often chronically infects liver hepatocytes and causes liver cirrhosis and cancer. These viruses replicate their genomes employing error-prone replicases. Thereby, they routinely generate a large 'cloud' of RNA genomes (quasispecies) which-by trial and error-comprehensively explore the sequence space available for functional RNA genomes that maintain the ability for efficient replication and immune escape. In this context, it is important to identify which RNA secondary structures in the sequence space of the HCV genome are conserved, likely due to functional requirements. Here, we provide the first genome-wide multiple sequence alignment (MSA) with the prediction of RNA secondary structures throughout all representative full-length HCV genomes. We selected 57 representative genomes by clustering all complete HCV genomes from the BV-BRC database based on k-mer distributions and dimension reduction and adding RefSeq sequences. We include annotations of previously recognized features for easy comparison to other studies. Our results indicate that mainly the core coding region, the C-terminal NS5A region, and the NS5B region contain secondary structure elements that are conserved beyond coding sequence requirements, indicating functionality on the RNA level. In contrast, the genome regions in between contain less highly conserved structures. The results provide a complete description of all conserved RNA secondary structures and make clear that functionally important RNA secondary structures are present in certain HCV genome regions but are largely absent from other regions. Full-genome alignments of all branches of Hepacivirus C are provided in the supplement.


Subject(s)
Conserved Sequence , Genome, Viral , Hepacivirus , Nucleic Acid Conformation , RNA, Viral , Hepacivirus/genetics , RNA, Viral/genetics , RNA, Viral/chemistry , Humans , Sequence Alignment , Hepatitis C/virology , Hepatitis C/genetics
9.
Nihon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi ; 121(7): 580-588, 2024.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38987168

ABSTRACT

Improvement and worsening of portal hypertension after direct acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis have been reported, and a consensus remains elusive. In this study, we underscored on the intraperitoneal shunt formed via portal hypertension and examined how the shunt system confirmed by computed tomography (CT) changes before and after treatment in cases in which sustained virological response (SVR) was attained with DAAs. Of the cases in which we achieved an SVR of 24 with DAA treatment for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis at our hospital, 83 cases in which CT images were taken before and after treatment were investigated. If the intraperitoneal shunt diameter changed by 20% or more, it was analyzed as an increase or decrease. In 29 patients, intraperitoneal shunt enlargement was noted. When examining factors related to the increase, multivariate analysis detected the FIB4 index at the end of the DAA treatment. Conversely, only four cases were observed in which the size decreased. At the end of treatment, the FIB4 index was the most important factor in increasing the intraperitoneal shunt after DAA treatment for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis, and fibrosis was believed to be an influencing factor.


Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents , Hepatitis C , Humans , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Hepatitis C/drug therapy , Hepatitis C/complications , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Hypertension, Portal , Liver Cirrhosis/surgery
11.
J Med Virol ; 96(7): e29776, 2024 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38953430

ABSTRACT

The genetic diversity of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes influences the host's immune response to viral pathogens. This study aims to explore the impact of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in KIR3DL2 and HLA-A genes on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A total of 2251 individuals were included in the case-control study. SNPs including KIR3DL2 rs11672983, rs3745902, rs1654644, and HLA-A rs3869062, rs12202296 were genotyped. By controlling various confounding factors using a modified logistic regression model, as well as incorporating stratified analysis, joint effects analysis, and multidimensional bioinformatics analysis, we analyzed the relationship between SNPs and HCV infection. The logistic regression analysis showed a correlation between KIR3DL2 rs11672983 AA, KIR3DL2 rs3745902 TT, and increased HCV susceptibility (p < 0.01). Stratified analysis indicated that KIR3DL2 rs1654644 and HLA-A rs3869062 also heightened HCV susceptibility in certain subgroups. A linear trend of rising HCV infection rates was observed when combining KIR3DL2 rs11672983 AA and KIR3DL2 rs3745902 TT (ptrend = 0.007). Bioinformatics analysis suggested these SNPs' regulatory potential and their role in altering messenger RNA secondary structure, implying their functional relevance in HCV susceptibility. Our findings indicate that KIR3DL2 rs11672983 AA and KIR3DL2 rs3745902 TT are significantly associated with increased susceptibility to HCV infection.


Subject(s)
Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Hepatitis C , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Humans , Male , Female , Case-Control Studies , Hepatitis C/genetics , Hepatitis C/virology , Hepatitis C/immunology , Middle Aged , Adult , HLA-A Antigens/genetics , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepacivirus/immunology , Receptors, KIR/genetics , Aged , Receptors, KIR3DL2/genetics
12.
Acta Med Indones ; 56(2): 155-167, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39010774

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are global health problems, including in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes about HBV and HCV infection among infected patients in Indonesia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was adapted and translated into Indonesian language, and trialed with 27 HBV and 27 HCV patients. The final validated questionnaire was later used in the target population. Patients diagnosed with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C were included. The patients were enrolled from November 2019 until February 2020 in sixteen multicenter locations. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression was conducted to determine the factors that are associated with the knowledge and attitude among HBV and HCV patients toward their illness. RESULTS: A total of 931 HBV patients and 254 HCV patients were included in this survey. The proportion of infected patients with adequate knowledge of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 72.1% and 53.9%, respectively. Positive attitudes about Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C were 28.5% and 41.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher education level, higher income level, diagnosis duration of more than 5 years, and receiving of antiviral therapy were independent factors associated with adequate knowledge about Hepatitis B among HBV patients. Among HCV patients, independent factors associated with adequate knowledge about Hepatitis C were being married, higher education level, higher income level, and receiving antiviral therapy. Moreover, older age and receiving of antiviral therapy were independent factors associated with positive attitudes towards Hepatitis B among HBV patients. However, only higher education level was found to be an independent factor associated with positive attitudes towards Hepatitis C among HCV patients. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and attitude of patients regarding HBV and HCV were quite low among infected patients in Indonesia.


Subject(s)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Hepatitis B , Hepatitis C , Humans , Indonesia/epidemiology , Female , Male , Cross-Sectional Studies , Adult , Middle Aged , Hepatitis C/psychology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/psychology , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Young Adult , Logistic Models , Educational Status , Multivariate Analysis
13.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 16551, 2024 Jul 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39019899

ABSTRACT

Pakistan bears a substantial burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with the second-highest prevalence globally. This community-based cross-sectional study, conducted from January to December 2022 in Punjab, Pakistan, investigates the seroprevalence of HCV among the men who have sex with men (MSM) population. The study identifies demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with HCV infection within this population group. Among the 501 participants, the study found an HCV seroprevalence of 14.86%. The association between demographic characteristics and seroprevalence is assessed by calculating the percentage of positive cases, revealing notable associations with age, education level, and self-identified sexual orientation. Furthermore, the study identified several behavioral risk factors positively associated with HCV seroprevalence, including sharing personal items such as razors and toothbrushes, histories of surgery, blood transfusion, dental procedures, intravenous drug use, and therapeutic injection histories. These risk factors were identified through structured interviews, and the prevalence of HCV seropositivity among the exposed groups was calculated accordingly. Interestingly, a lower HCV positivity rate was observed among self-reported HIV-positive individuals, contradicting previous research. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive, targeted prevention strategies such as risk factor awareness campaigns and educational programs tailored for the MSM population in Pakistan. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and better understand the complex interplay of factors contributing to HCV seroprevalence in this high-risk population.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis C , Homosexuality, Male , Humans , Male , Pakistan/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Adult , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Middle Aged , Hepacivirus/immunology , Young Adult , Prevalence , Adolescent , Sexual Behavior
14.
Zhongguo Ying Yong Sheng Li Xue Za Zhi ; 40: e20240012, 2024 Jul 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39019924

ABSTRACT

People with certain blood groups and Rh positive are more prone to infections transmitted by blood transfusion. The aim of this research was to survey the accompaniment of ABO Blood Group System and Rh type with infection to hepatitis C virus in India. This was a retrospective study in patients during October 2019-March2022 in India. The population of blood donors was tested for blood borne infections, including HCV. Logistic regression was used and collected data were analyzed using SPSS v.16.A total number of 901 people referred to the organization for donating blood during aforementioned years. Of these, 224 people had a history of hepatitis C disease, including 189 unmarried persons and the rest were married. 167 individuals were males and 57individuals were females. People who had viral diseases were comprised of 76 persons with negative Rh and 148positive persons with Rh.Future aims should include studies into blood groups and Rh types, according to the results of this study, in order to avoid the spread of blood-borne infections. Furthermore, further study is needed to establish the particular blood kinds that provide an elevated danger for classified donors.


Subject(s)
ABO Blood-Group System , Hepatitis C , Tertiary Care Centers , Humans , Male , Female , India/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/blood , Retrospective Studies , Blood Donors/statistics & numerical data , Hepacivirus/isolation & purification , Rh-Hr Blood-Group System , Adult , Middle Aged
15.
BMJ Open ; 14(7): e083502, 2024 Jul 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38960465

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Despite universal access to government-funded direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in 2016, the rate of hepatitis C treatment uptake in Australia has declined substantially. Most hepatitis C is related to injecting drug use; reducing the hepatitis C burden among people who inject drugs (PWID) is, therefore, paramount to reach hepatitis C elimination targets. Increasing DAA uptake by PWID is important for interrupting transmission and reducing incidence, as well as reducing morbidity and mortality and improving quality of life of PWID and meeting Australia's hepatitis C elimination targets. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A cluster randomised cross-over trial will be conducted with three intervention arms and a control arm. Arm A will receive rapid hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody testing; arm B will receive rapid HCV antibody and rapid RNA testing; arm C will receive rapid HCV antibody testing and same-day treatment initiation for HCV antibody-positive participants; the control arm will receive standard of care. The primary outcomes will be (a) the proportion of participants with HCV commencing treatment and (b) the proportion of participants with HCV achieving cure. Analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis with mixed-effects logistic regression models. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the Alfred Ethics Committee (number HREC/64731/Alfred-2020-217547). Each participant will provide written informed consent. Reportable adverse events will be reported to the reviewing ethics committee. The findings will be presented at scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05016609. TRIAL PROGRESSION: The study commenced recruitment on 9 March 2022 and is expected to complete recruitment in December 2024.


Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents , Cross-Over Studies , Hepatitis C , Substance Abuse, Intravenous , Humans , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications , Hepatitis C/drug therapy , Australia , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Hepacivirus/genetics
16.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 15463, 2024 07 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38965254

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health concern, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. While existing literature predominantly focuses on disease classification using clinical data, there exists a critical research gap concerning HCV genotyping based on genomic sequences. Accurate HCV genotyping is essential for patient management and treatment decisions. While the neural models excel at capturing complex patterns, they still face challenges, such as data scarcity, that exist a lot in computational genomics. To overcome this challenges, this paper introduces an advanced deep learning approach for HCV genotyping based on the graphical representation of nucleotide sequences that outperforms classical approaches. Notably, it is effective for both partial and complete HCV genomes and addresses challenges associated with imbalanced datasets. In this work, ten HCV genotypes: 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, and 6 were used in the analysis. This study utilizes Chaos Game Representation for 2D mapping of genomic sequences, employing self-supervised learning using convolutional autoencoder for deep feature extraction, resulting in an outstanding performance for HCV genotyping compared to various machine learning and deep learning models. This baseline provides a benchmark against which the performance of the proposed approach and other models can be evaluated. The experimental results showcase a remarkable classification accuracy of over 99%, outperforming traditional deep learning models. This performance demonstrates the capability of the proposed model to accurately identify HCV genotypes in both partial and complete sequences and in dealing with data scarcity for certain genotypes. The results of the proposed model are compared to NCBI genotyping tool.


Subject(s)
Genome, Viral , Genotype , Genotyping Techniques , Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepacivirus/classification , Humans , Genotyping Techniques/methods , Hepatitis C/virology , Supervised Machine Learning , Deep Learning , Computational Biology/methods
17.
J Infect Dev Ctries ; 18(6): 957-963, 2024 Jun 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38991002

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Blood donation is vital for healthcare; however, transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) pose a serious risk. This study investigated the seroprevalence of TTIs among Saudi blood donors. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study included male blood donors aged ≥ 18 years who donated blood at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Makkah from January 2017 to December 2022. The blood units were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibodies (HBc-IgG), hepatitis C antibodies (HCV-Abs), syphilis, HIV-1 antigen/antibody (HIV-1 Ag/Ab), human T-lymphotropic virus 1, 2 (HTLV-1/2), and malaria. RESULTS: There were 40,287 donors with an average age of 44.33 ± 18.12 years, and 62.3% (n = 25103) were Saudis. The overall rate of TTIs seropositivity was 7.4% (n = 2953); HBc-IgG (6.1%; n = 2473) was the most common, followed by HCV-Abs (0.4%; n = 177), and syphilis (0.34%; n = 136). All cases were negative for malaria, whilst HIV and HTLV positive donors were 0.06% (n = 24) and 0.13% (n = 52), respectively. Syphilis was more prevalent among non-Saudis (0.24%; n = 83) than among Saudis (0.1%; n = 53), whereas anti-HBc antibodies seropositivity was significantly higher among Saudi (3.4%; n = 1373) than non-Saudi donors (2.7%; n = 1100). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis B virus was the most frequently detected bloodborne pathogen, followed by hepatitis C virus and syphilis. Hepatitis B virus was also more prevalent among Saudi donors, whilst expatriates had higher rates of syphilis. Additional prospective multicenter studies are needed to accurately determine the prevalence of TTIs in Saudi Arabia.


Subject(s)
Blood Donors , Syphilis , Humans , Saudi Arabia/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Blood Donors/statistics & numerical data , Male , Adult , Retrospective Studies , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Syphilis/epidemiology , Syphilis/blood , Adolescent , Transfusion Reaction/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Blood-Borne Infections/epidemiology , Aged , Hepatitis C/epidemiology
18.
BMC Prim Care ; 25(1): 252, 2024 Jul 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38992590

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite curative treatment options since 2014, only 12% of individuals in Washington State diagnosed with Hepatitis C (HCV) received treatment in 2018. Washington State agencies launched an elimination plan in 2019 to promote access to and delivery of HCV screening and treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate provider and health system barriers to successful implementation of HCV screening and treatment across Washington State. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional online survey of 547 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical pharmacists who provide care to adult patients in Washington State conducted in 2022. Providers were eligible if they worked in a primary care, infectious disease, gastroenterology, or community health settings. Questions assessed HCV screening and treating practices, implementation barriers, provider knowledge, observed stigma, and willingness to co-manage HCV and substance use disorder. Chi-squared or fishers exact tests compared characteristics of those who did and did not screen or treat. RESULTS: Provider adoption of screening for HCV was high across the state (96%), with minimal barriers identified. Fewer providers reported treating HCV themselves (28%); most (71%) referred their patients to another provider. Barriers identified by those not treating HCV included knowledge deficit (64%) and lack of organizational support (24%). The barrier most identified in those treating HCV was a lack of treating clinicians (18%). There were few (< 10%) reports of observed stigma in settings of HCV treatment. Most clinicians (95%) were willing to prescribe medication for substance use disorders to those that were using drugs including alcohol. CONCLUSION: Despite widespread screening efforts, there remain barriers to implementing HCV treatment in Washington State. Lack of treating clinicians and clinician knowledge deficit were the most frequently identified barriers to treating HCV. To achieve elimination of HCV by 2030, there is a need to grow and educate the clinician workforce treating HCV.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis C , Mass Screening , Humans , Washington/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/drug therapy , Hepatitis C/diagnosis , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Adult , Health Services Accessibility , Social Stigma , Attitude of Health Personnel , Health Personnel/psychology , Pharmacists , Surveys and Questionnaires , Disease Eradication
19.
Egypt J Immunol ; 31(3): 95-112, 2024 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38995715

ABSTRACT

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the immunogenic profile of a chimeric DNA-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine candidate encoding the full-length viral core-E1-E2 (HCV-CE) fragment. The vaccine candidate was designed to uniformly express the HCV genotype 4 core-E1-E2 protein. The recombinant HCV-CE protein was bacterially expressed in C41 (DE3) cells, and then BALB/c mice were immunized with different combinations of DNA/DNA or DNA/protein prime/boost immunizations. The proper construction of our vaccine candidate was confirmed by specific amplification of the encoded fragments and basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) results of the nucleotide sequence, which revealed a high degree of similarity with several HCV serotypes/genotypes. The platform for bacterial expression was optimized to maximize the yield of the purified recombinant HCV-CE protein. The recombinant protein showed high specific antigenicity against the sera of HCV-infected patients according to the ELISA and western blot results. The predicted B- and T-cell epitopes showed high antigenic and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) induction potential, in addition to cross-genotype conservation and population coverage. The mice antisera further demonstrated a remarkable ability to capture 100% of the native viral antigens circulating in the sera of HCV patients, with no cross-reactivity detected in control sera. In conclusion, the proposed HCV vaccination strategy demonstrated promising potential regarding its safety, immunogenicity, and population coverage.


Subject(s)
Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Vaccines, DNA , Viral Hepatitis Vaccines , Animals , Hepacivirus/immunology , Hepacivirus/genetics , Vaccines, DNA/immunology , Vaccines, DNA/genetics , Mice , Viral Hepatitis Vaccines/immunology , Hepatitis C/prevention & control , Hepatitis C/immunology , Humans , Immunogenicity, Vaccine/immunology , Viral Envelope Proteins/immunology , Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics , Viral Core Proteins/immunology , Viral Core Proteins/genetics , Female , Hepatitis C Antibodies/immunology , Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood
20.
Acta Med Indones ; 56(2): 185-190, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39010767

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Point of care is laboratory testing conducted close to the site of the patient. Point of care assessment is essential to detect and treat the hepatitis C virus in a single visit. The potential use of Genedrive extends to remote areas and key populations Therefore, there is a need for a simple, and cost-effective examination of methods, such as Genedrive. Genedrive is a rapid and low-cost diagnostic tool for the identification and treatment selection of infectious diseases. The World Health Organization targets to eliminate hepatitis by 2030, which decreases infections by 90%, and decreases deaths by 65%. Point of care could play a significant role in contributing to the elimination of hepatitis C. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on hemodialysis are among the population at risk of hepatitis C due to nosocomial transmission. This study aimed to assess the role of Genedrive in measuring hepatitis C in chronic hepatitis C patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design. There were 64 CKD on Hd patients in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital tested by Genedrive. ROC analysis was conducted to assess significant hepatitis C among chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. RESULTS: The calculated detection limit of Genedrive was 3.1x103 IU/mL. Genedrive HCV assay showed 90.6% sensitivity, 96.8% specificity, 92% negative predictive value, and 97% positive predictive value to detect HCV, 10.36 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.09 negative likelihood ratio. CONCLUSION: Genedrive could be a simple and reliable point of care method to detect hepatitis C with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.


Subject(s)
Point-of-Care Systems , Renal Dialysis , Humans , Female , Male , Cross-Sectional Studies , Middle Aged , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/therapy , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications , Adult , Hepacivirus/isolation & purification , Sensitivity and Specificity , ROC Curve , Indonesia , Aged , Hepatitis C/diagnosis , Hepatitis C/complications , Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications , Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis
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