Hepatitis C Virus Genetic Diversity and Drug Mutational Analysis in Cameroon: 1992 to 2013
Judith Ndongo Torimiro *
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon and Centre International de Référence Chantal Biya pour la Recherche sur la Prévention et de la Prise en Charge du VIH/SIDA (CIRCB), Cameroon
Laure Arlette Tchapda
Centre International de Référence Chantal Biya pour la Recherche sur la Prévention et de la Prise en Charge du VIH/SIDA (CIRCB), Cameroon and Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Maurice Boda
Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Jude Saber Bimela
Centre International de Référence Chantal Biya pour la Recherche sur la Prévention et de la Prise en Charge du VIH/SIDA (CIRCB), Cameroon and Hepatitis Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, USA
Dale Netski
Hepatitis Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, USA
Désire Takou
Centre International de Référence Chantal Biya pour la Recherche sur la Prévention et de la Prise en Charge du VIH/SIDA (CIRCB), Cameroon
Donald Scot Burke
University of Pittsburg Graduate School of Public Health, USA
Ubald Tamoufe
Global Virus Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon
Eitel Mpoudi-Ngole
CREMER, Institut Médicale des Plantes Médicinal, Cameroon
Henry Namme Luma
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon and General Hospital Douala, Cameroon
Oudou Njoya
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Wilfred Fon Mbacham
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon and Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Nathan Wolfe
Global Virus Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon
Stuart Ray
Hepatitis Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, USA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
HCV infection is endemic in Cameroon. A Direct acting agent (DAAs), sofosbuvir that target the HCV non-structural 5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B RdRp) has recently been incorporated into the standard of care in Cameroon but no drug resistance study to this DAA has been reported in Cameroon. From the laboratory, 157 sequences were obtained and 252 downloaded from the Los Alamos HCV Sequence Database, of which 45 were Core (C), 112 were envelope (E1) and 252 were NS5B sequences were characterized by phylogeny. Drug resistance pattern in the NS5B gene was analyzed using the Geno2Pheno HCV 0.92 tool. Genotypes 1, 2 and 4 were identified. Several drug resistance-associated mutations in the NS5B gene that confer susceptibility (S282T (0.4%), and M414T (0.4%), I434M (2.8%), M414L (6.0%), C289L (13.5%) that confer possible resistance as well as (F415Y (41.3%) and V179A (4.0%) of unknown effect on sofosbuvir (SOF) were identified. There is a low level resistance rate to SOF in Cameroon.
Keywords: Genotypes, NS5B inhibitors, resistance, sofosbuvir, direct-acting agent