Role of HCV sequence variation in liver pathology

Investigators:

Principal Investigator: John Tavis

Co-Investigator: Adrian Di Bisceglie

Hypotheses/Aims

Genetic variation in HCV sequences affecting viral replication or immune evasion activities modulates the rate of progression of liver disease.

We will test this hypothesis using a two-pronged approach.

First, we will assess variation in the complete HCV open reading frame in viruses from patients whose disease advanced slowly or rapidly employing the genome-wide sequencing approaches we developed for the NIDDK-sponsored Virahep-C clinical study.

Second, we will test how genetic variation associated with HCC development affects the function of HCV proteins implicated in modulating viral virulence.