HCV

Question 1

What viral family is HCV?

Answer 1

Flaviviridae

Question 2

What kind of genome does HCV have?

Answer 2

+ssRNA
Naked 5’
Contains multiple HVRs
Lots of different splice sites

Question 3

What is encoded for by the HCV genome?

Answer 3

Lots of different proteases…including one that disrupts TLR pathway (interferon…apoptosis inhibitor)

Question 4

What is the outermost layer of HCV?

Answer 4

Envelope

Question 5

Because HCV is enveloped and has to spread via direct contact, what are the risk factors for developing HCV infection?

Answer 5

IV drug use

Blood transfusions prior to 1990

Question 6

What surface receptor is needed for HCV infection?

Answer 6

CD81 (liver cells and B cells)

Question 7

What is the incubation period for HCV?

Answer 7

Long…2-24 weeks

Question 8

Is HCV more likely to cause an acute or chronic infection?

Answer 8

70-80% of all infections are chronic

Question 9

What are the potential complications of a chronic HCV infection?

Answer 9

Cirrhosis
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Liver failure

Question 10

How is HCV diagnosed?

Answer 10

Anti-HCV antibody

RT-PCR

Question 11

How are HCV infections treated?

Answer 11

Alpha-interferon
Ribavirin
Boceprevir (protease inhibitor)
Telaprevir (protease inhibitor)

Question 12

Why is there NOT a vaccine for HCV?

Answer 12

The HVRs in the genome cause the body to think it is different viruses

Question 13

What percentage of the world’s population has had HCV infection? Where is it most prevalent?

Answer 13

3% of global population has had HCV

Most prevalent in souther Italy, Spain, central Europe, Japan, and parts of the Middle East

Question 14

How many Americans are chronically infected? How many new cases per year are there in the US?

Answer 14

3.2million Americans have chronic HCV

16,500 people acquire HCV per year in the US