Hepatitis C Flashcards
What is the most common route of transmission for HCV in Aus?
Percutaneous via IVDU
How can HCV infection be prevented?
Blood donor screening
Risk behaviour modification
What is the leading indicator for liver transplantation in Aus?
HCV
What is the most common presentation of HCV?
Chronic (70% of patients)
What kind of immune response is mounted to HCV? Why?
Poor (carriers can be superinfected) due to high mutation rate of virus (N35B viral RNA polymerase is highly error prone)
Describe the molecular characteristics of HCV
Flavivirus with +ive sense ssRNA
Describe the replication cycle of HCV
Binds and enters hepatocyte
Uncoats to release HCV +ive sense ssRNA
Viral genome replicated on ER by NS5B viral RNA polymerase (highly error prone)
Viral proteins are transcribed and translated
Virion is assembled
Virion matures and passes from cell-to-cell or is secreted
What is the incubation period of HCV?
~50 days
What are the possible sequelae of chronic HCV infection?
Liver fibrosis
Cirrhosis
Liver failure
HCC (more characteristic of HBV infection)
How is HCV treated?
Previously: pegylated IFN-a, ribavirin
Now: direct acting antivirals (DAAs)
Describe the 5 main classes of DAAs for HCV
Viral entry inhibitors HCV RNA translation inhibitors Post-translational processing inhibitors HCV replication inhibitors Viral assembly and release inhibitors
NS3-4A
Post-translational processing inhibitor of HCV
NS5B polymerase inhibitor
HCV replication inhibitor
Cyclophilin B inhibitor
HCV replication inhibitor
NS5A inhibitor
HCV replication inhibitor
