• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.578-584
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• 2018

Background: Accurate, rapid, and cost-effective screening tests for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be useful in laboratories that cannot afford automated chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIAs). We evaluated the diagnostic performance of a novel rapid automated fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). Methods: A fluorescent LFIA using a small bench-top fluorescence reader, Automated Fluorescent Immunoassay System (AFIAS; Boditech Med Inc., Chuncheon, Korea), was developed for qualitative detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) within 20 minutes. We compared the diagnostic performance of AFIAS with that of automated CLIAs-Elecsys (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, Germany) and ARCHITECT (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA)-using 20 seroconversion panels and 3,500 clinical serum samples. Results: Evaluation with the seroconversion panels demonstrated that AFIAS had adequate sensitivity for HBsAg and anti-HCV detection. From the clinical samples, AFIAS sensitivity and specificity were 99.8% and 99.3% for the HBsAg test, 100.0% and 100.0% for the anti-HBs test, and 98.8% and 99.1% for the anti-HCV test, respectively. Its agreement rates with the Elecsys HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV detection assays were 99.4%, 100.0%, and 99.0%, respectively. AFIAS detected all samples with HBsAg genotypes A-F and H and anti-HCV genotypes 1, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 4, and 6. Cross-reactivity with other infections was not observed. Conclusions: The AFIAS HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV tests demonstrated diagnostic performance equivalent to current automated CLIAs. AFIAS could be used for a large-scale HBV or HCV screening in low-resource laboratories or low-to middle-income areas.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2008

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known as the causative agent of blood transmitted hepatitis. Two viral proteins, E2 and NS5A, are known to exert interferon resistance of HCV via PKR pathway. Here, we report a third protein, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B) of HCV, induced interferon resistance inhibiting p56 pathway. p56 was shown to interact with p48 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3). This interaction inhibited formation of ternary complex in translation initiation. Using dual reporter assay system, we observed that the translation decreased when interferon alpha was added to the culture. But, in the presence of HCV NS5B, the translation partly recovered. NS5B and p48 subunit of eIF3 were shown to interact. This interaction seems to inhibit the interaction between p48 and p56. This is the first report that a virus exerts interferon resistance via p56 pathway.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.541-550
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• 2003

E2 glycoprotein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) comprises a surface of viral particle together with E1 glycoprotein, and is thought to be involved in the attachment of HCV viral particle to receptor (s) on the permissible cells including hepatocytes, B cells, T cells, and monocytes. We constructed a phage library expressing cellular proteins of hepatocytes on the phage surface, which turned out to be 8.8${\times}$$10^5$ cfu of diversity and carried inserts in 95% of library. We screened both cDNA phage library and 12-mer peptide library to identify the cellular proteins binding to E2 protein. Some intracellular proteins including tensin and membrane band 4.1 which are involved in signal transduction of survival and cytoskeleton organization, were selected from cDNA phage library through several rounds of panning and screening. On the contrary, membrane proteins such as CCR7, CKR-L2, and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor were identified through screening of peptide library. Phages expressing peptides corresponding to those membrane proteins were bound to E2 protein specifically as determined by neutralization of binding assay. Since it is well known that HCV can infect T cells as well as hepatocytes, we examined to see if E2 protein can bind to CCR7, a member of C-protein coupled receptor family expressed on T cells, using CCR7 transfected tells. Human CCR7 cDNA was cloned into pcDNA3.1(-) vector and transfected into human embryonic kidney cell, 293T, and expressed on the surface of the cell as shown by flow cytometer. Binding assay of E2 protein using CCR7 transfected cells indicated that E2 protein bound to CCR7 by dose-dependent mode, giving rise to the possibility that CCR7 might be a putative cellular receptor for HCV.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1643-1648
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• 2010

Adenosine 5'-phosphonates have been reported as potential chain terminators against Hepatitis C virus (HCV); therefore, we developed convenient sequences for synthesis of modified adenosine 5'-phosphonates in which the hydroxyl group at 2' or 3'-position of the sugar moiety is substituted with the azido or amino group and the oxymethyl group at the 4'-position is modified by the ethylene or vinyl group. This synthetic sequence can provide six adenosine 5'-phosphonates via one protocol, and is considered to be very efficient and a convenient route of synthesis. An assay of adenosine 5'-phosphonate analogues (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) against HCV infection is now in progress.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.351-357
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• 2018

The advent of novel, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has revolutionized its treatment by producing a sustained virologic response of more than 95% with few side effects and no comorbidities in the general population. Until recently, ideal DAA regimens have not been available to patients with severe renal impairment and end-stage renal disease because there are limited data on the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of treatment in this unique population. In a hemodialysis context, identifying patients in need of treatment and preventing HCV transmission may also be a matter of concern. Recently published studies suggest that a combination of paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir and dasabuvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir, or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir successfully treats HCV infection in chronic kidney disease stage 4 or 5 patients with or without hemodialysis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4415-4420
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• 2016

We aimed to investigate any association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the view of cytokines that control inflammation/angiogenesis and their correlation with certain CD markers. NHL patients with or without HCV infection were studied. CD5, CD30, CD3, CD20 and CD45 were immunohistochemically evaluated. Plasma levels of vascular endothelial and platelet derived growth factors (VEGF, and PDGF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$), transforming growth factor (TGF-${\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-4, IL-12 and interferon gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HCV+ve NHL patients showed a significant reduction in VEGF, PDGF, IFN-${\gamma}$, CD5 and CD45 and a significant increase in IL-12 and IL-8. In conclusion, there was a significant change in cytokine secretion and expression of CD markers in HCV+ve NHL patients. Based on our results, HCV infection in NHL patients requires more in-depth investigations to explore any role in lymphoma progression.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.17-29
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• 1997

To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to determine associated risk factors, a population-based seroepidemiologic study was carried out. In 1993, a health examination survey of the population was carried out in rural area known to have a high incidence of liver cancer. The study population were those who volunteered to participate in a health survey over 10 years of age. Examinees were interviewed by specially trained staffs. Sera from 1,033 study subjects were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by .everse passive hemagglutinin (RPHA) estimation and for hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) by 2nd generation passive hemagglutinin (PHA) estimation. The age and sex standardized prevalence of HBsAg was 6.3% which was similar to national average, but that of anti-HCV was 5.1% which was 4 to 5 times higher than that of blood donors or other health examinees in Korea. In a multivariate analysis, transfusion history, surgical operative history, and acupuncture history were not associated with HBsAg positivity. In contrast, acupuncture history (adjusted odds ratio[OR]=2.2 : 95% Confidence interval[CI] 1.0-4.7) and surgical operative history(adjusted OR=2.0 : 95% CI 1.0-4.1) were associated with anti-HCV positivity. The present study suggest that there is an highly endemic area of HCV infection in Korea and probably this endemicity is associated with a parenteral source of HCV infection other than blood transfusion.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1953-1954
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• 2013

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2016

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is present in a high proportion of patients with kidney transplantation. Compared with uninfected kidney transplant recipients, HCV infected kidney recipient have higher prevalence of liver disease and worse allograft survival after transplantation. Interferon monotherapy before transplantation is standard therapy for HCV-infected kidney transplant candidates. If HCV infection is discovered after transplantation, interferon monotherapy is considered due to the limited critical situation. However, in this patient, who was a kidney recipient, HCV infection was treated after kidney transplantation with peginterferon-${\alpha}$ and rivabirin. As a result, the patient achieved sustained virologic response.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.4 s.36
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• pp.465-472
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• 1991

This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in drug abusers. The subjects were 141 inpatients who had been admitted to a general hospital with the symptoms and signs of methamphetamine intoxication. Seroprevalence of antibody to the hepatitis C virus(anti-HCV) was 60.3%(85/141) and it was higher in the group with increased frequency and duration of drug abuse, but such a relationship was not found in the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg). These findings suggested the possibility of high prevalence of HCV infection in methamphetamine abusers, and the importance of repetitive percutaneous injection in the transmission of HCV infection.