RE: Repost - Genotypes Explained

[Guest guest]

This is very interesting, Claudine. I didn't realize that the virus hasn't

been seen under a microscope. How do they know what it looks like then?

Pam in Maine

>From: claudine intexas <claudineintexas@...>

>Reply-Hepatitis C

>gi <giworld-hepatitis >

>Subject: Repost - Genotypes Explained

>Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2004 00:44:14 -0700 (PDT)

>

>Genotypes Explained

>

>It is much easier to talk of the hepatitis C virus as if it is a

>single organism but in fact it is a range of viruses, similar enough

>to be called hepatitis C virus, yet different enough to be classified

>into subgroups. Viruses are microscopic and no person could ever see

>them with the naked eye. Indeed, HCV is so small that there’s been no

>confirmed actual sighting of it using any type of microscope yet

>developed (see Ed 17, p1). Consequently, a better way to understand

>the terms HCV ‘genotypes’ and ‘subtypes’ is to compare them to things

>that we can more readily relate to.

>Genotypes

>The group of birds we call ‘raptors’ (birds of prey) have evolved

>into different main types. Imagining raptors as being hepatitis C

>viruses, you could take one major raptor type, such as eagles, and

>imagine these as being one of HCV’s main types (genotypes).

>

>Subtypes

>But eagles as a group are made up of different sub types such as the

>American Bald Eagle and Australia’s Wedge Tailed Eagle and Sea Eagle.

>You could imagine each of these as being one of the HCV subtypes that

>make up an HCV genotype.

>

>Quasispecies

>Within each of above particular types of eagles, there are further

>differences. All Wedge Tailed Eagles, for example, differ from each

>other in regard to wing span, weight, colour, beak size, etc.

>Similarly, within a hepatitis C sub-type, individual viruses differ

>from each other ever so slightly. Such viral differences are not

>significant enough to form another sub-type but instead form what’s

>known as quasi-species. It is believed that within an HCV sub-type,

>several million quasispecies may exist.

>Scientists predict that people who have hepatitis C, have billions of

>actual viruses circulating within their body. Although there may be

>one or two predominant sub-types, the infection as a whole is not a

>single entity and is composed of many different quasispecies.

>

>Classifications

>Biologists are generally not known for creativity when it comes to

>naming things - hence hepatitis C virus. The most commonly used

>classification of hepatitis C virus has HCV divided into the

>following genotypes (main types):

>1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

>As we’ve highlighted, HCV genotypes can be broken down into

>sub-types, some of which include:

>1a, 1b, 1c

>2a, 2b, 2c

>3a, 3b

>4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e

>5a

>6a

>7a, 7b

>8a, 8b

>9a

>10a

>11a

>

>Genotype patterns

>It is believed that the hepatitis C virus has evolved over a period

>of several thousand years (see Ed 20, p7). This would explain the

>current general global patterns of genotypes and subtypes:

>

>1a - mostly found in Nth & Sth America; also common in Australia

>1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

>2a - is the most common genotype 2 in Japan and China.

>2b - is the most common genotype 2 in the US and Nthn Europe.

>2c - the most common genotype 2 in Wstn and Sthn Europe.

>3a - highly prevalent here in Australia (40% of cases) and Sth Asia.

>4a - highly prevalent in Egypt

>4c - highly prevalent in Central Africa

>5a - highly prevalent only in Sth Africa

>6a - restricted to Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam

>7a and 7b - common in Thailand

>8a, 8b & 9a - prevalent in Vietnam

>10a & 11a - found in Indonesia

>

>It’s believed that of the estimated 160,000 Australians with HCV,

>approx. 35% have subtype ‘1a’, 15% have ‘1b’, 7% have ‘2’, 35% have

>‘3’ (mostly being 3a). The remaining people would have other

>genotypes.

>

>Genotype and treatment

>Current scientific belief is that factors such as duration of a

>person’s HCV infection, their HCV viral load, age, grade of liver

>inflammation or stage of fibrosis may play an important role in

>determining response to interferon treatment. Recent studies have

>suggested that a person’s HCV subtype (or subtypes) may influence

>their possible response to interferon, or interferon-ribavirin

>combination treatment. World-wide trials are being conducted which

>will soon shed more light on this belief. We’ll publish any reports

>as they come to hand.

>

>Info taken from Genotypes and Genetic Variation of Hepatitis C Virus

>by G. Maerterns & L. Stuyver, reviewed by Dr Greg Dore of the

>National Centre in HIV Epidemiology & Clinical Research.

>From The Hep C Review; Ed 23, December 1998; Harvey

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

cable mom <parend53@...> wrote:

I didn't realize that the virus hasn't

been seen under a microscope. How do they know what it looks like then?

Pam in Maine

Actually, that is an old article. I believe that they have been able to actually

see the virus now.

[Guest guest]

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

tammster62 <t1d1r1d1@...> wrote:

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

There are still quite a number of 1b people in N. America! I am also 1b.

C

[Guest guest]

tammster62 <t1d1r1d1@...> wrote:

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

There are still quite a number of 1b people in N. America! I am also 1b.

C

[Guest guest]

tammster62 <t1d1r1d1@...> wrote:

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

There are still quite a number of 1b people in N. America! I am also 1b.

C

[Guest guest]

tammster62 <t1d1r1d1@...> wrote:

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

There are still quite a number of 1b people in N. America! I am also 1b.

C

[Guest guest]

> There are still quite a number of 1b people in N. America! I am

also 1b.

>

> C

And you're from Texas too, hummmmmmm. Do you mind me asking in what

general vicinity?

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

> There are still quite a number of 1b people in N. America! I am

also 1b.

>

> C

And you're from Texas too, hummmmmmm. Do you mind me asking in what

general vicinity?

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

> There are still quite a number of 1b people in N. America! I am

also 1b.

>

> C

And you're from Texas too, hummmmmmm. Do you mind me asking in what

general vicinity?

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

> There are still quite a number of 1b people in N. America! I am

also 1b.

>

> C

And you're from Texas too, hummmmmmm. Do you mind me asking in what

general vicinity?

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/22/2004 11:58:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

t1d1r1d1@... writes:

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

I think, but I haven't actually seen it in writing per se, that your genetic

heritage has something to do with the type and the way your body responds to

the virus. In other words, it is my belief that the basic C virus mutates

according to the host. So if your ancestry is European........etc. I don't

think

anyone has even bothered to research that. If they have, I haven't seen an

article about it.

My basis for that statement comes from watching the epidemiology (sp) of

various flu viri that change from population to population. So my opinion is

just

that.

Anne

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/22/2004 11:58:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

t1d1r1d1@... writes:

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

I think, but I haven't actually seen it in writing per se, that your genetic

heritage has something to do with the type and the way your body responds to

the virus. In other words, it is my belief that the basic C virus mutates

according to the host. So if your ancestry is European........etc. I don't

think

anyone has even bothered to research that. If they have, I haven't seen an

article about it.

My basis for that statement comes from watching the epidemiology (sp) of

various flu viri that change from population to population. So my opinion is

just

that.

Anne

[Guest guest]

Well, join the crowd...I'm 1b and know a lot of 1Bs....

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

Well, join the crowd...I'm 1b and know a lot of 1Bs....

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

Well, join the crowd...I'm 1b and know a lot of 1Bs....

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

Well, join the crowd...I'm 1b and know a lot of 1Bs....

> 1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.

Leave it to me to get something odd. I realize that it says " mostly " ,

but heck, I have hardly ever been outside of Texas

<><TammieD><>

[Guest guest]

Yeah lotsa 1's in the northern Americas, both 1a and 1b. I'm assuming the

article meant 1a was more prevelent than 1b.

Alley

[Guest guest]

Yeah lotsa 1's in the northern Americas, both 1a and 1b. I'm assuming the

article meant 1a was more prevelent than 1b.

Alley

[Guest guest]

Yeah lotsa 1's in the northern Americas, both 1a and 1b. I'm assuming the

article meant 1a was more prevelent than 1b.

Alley

[Guest guest]

Yeah lotsa 1's in the northern Americas, both 1a and 1b. I'm assuming the

article meant 1a was more prevelent than 1b.

Alley

[Guest guest]

That could be Anne. I'm " European based " ethnically speaking, descending from

Austrian, Dutch and English ancestors mostly, blonde hair, green eyes.

Alley

[Guest guest]

That could be Anne. I'm " European based " ethnically speaking, descending from

Austrian, Dutch and English ancestors mostly, blonde hair, green eyes.

Alley

[Guest guest]

That could be Anne. I'm " European based " ethnically speaking, descending from

Austrian, Dutch and English ancestors mostly, blonde hair, green eyes.

Alley