Genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus and the prevalence of resistance mutations to NS5A inhibitors in the Krasnoyarsk region

Abstract

To research the molecular genetic characteristics of the HCV population circulating among HIV‐infected residents of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, including analysis of resistance‐associated mutations to NS5A inhibitors. Total RNA was isolated from 94 blood plasma samples from HIV/HCVinfected residents of the region and the nucleotide sequences of the Core/E1 gene and NS5A gene regions were obtained and deciphered, which were used for genotyping and searching for resistance mutations.In the HCV samples studied, the circulation of five virus subtypes was recorded: 1b (47,9 %), 3a (37,2 %), 1a (10,6 %), 2a (3,2 %) and 2k (1,1 %). Phylogenetic analysis of HCVs revealed partial clustering within subtypes 1a and 3a on a territorial basis. HCV subtypes 1b, 2a and 2k were grouped with other HCVs previously isolated in Russia, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Among the HCVs studied, no clusters were found that were common to HIV‐infected individuals with the same route of infection. Among patients who had no experience of taking DAAs, HCV resistance mutations in the NS5A region were found in 42,3 % of cases for those infected with subtype 3a virus and in 75,6 % of cases for those infected with HCV subtype 1b.The analysis of the diversity and occurrence of mutations of HCV drug resistance to direct antiviral drugs is extremely important for the development of tactics for effective treatment of CHC. The high prevalence of polymorphic mutations that affect sensitivity to DAAs indicates the relevance of introducing HCV resistance analysis into clinical practice.