Dissimilar conservation pattern in hepatitis C virus mutant spectra, consensus sequences, and data banks

摘要: The influence of quasispecies dynamics on long-term virus diversification in nature is a largely unexplored question. Specifically, whether intra-host nucleotide and amino acid variation fits observed consensus sequences or data bank alignments unknown. Genome conservation simulations are used for the computational design universal vaccines, therapeutic antibodies pan-genomic antiviral agents. expectation that selection escape mutants will be limited when mutations at conserved residues required. This strategy assumes (epidemiologically relevant) but, critically, does not consider short-term (quasispecies-dictated) residue conservation. We have calculated mutant frequencies individual loci from spectra hepatitis C (HCV) populations passaged cell culture infected patients. Nucleotide same populations, Los Alamos HCV did match spectra. results relativize concept sequence viral genetics, suggest invariance banks an insufficient basis ligands clinical purposes. Our calculations relaxed mutational restrictions during dynamics, which may contribute to higher than evolutionary rates.