Analysis of mutations in the core and NS5A genes of hepatitis C virus in non-responder and relapser patients after treatment with Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin.

Mutations in several regions of HCV genome are shown to correlate with response to interferon (IFN) treatment. Persistence of HCV infection and poor susceptibility to treatment might be contributed by mutations arising within HCV genome which enable the virus to escape from host immune response/IFN treatment. This study investigated mutations in core and NS5A genes of HCV from non-responder and relapser patients after treatment with Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin.

Comparison of Xpert MTB/RIF Assay and the Conventional Sputum Microscopy in Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Northern Thailand.

Background. Despite low sensitivity in detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, sputum acid-fast smear remains the main diagnostic method. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF assay versus conventional sputum acid-fast smear.

Influence of amino acid variations in the NS3, NS4A and NS4B of HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b and 6f on the response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy.

Background: It has been suggested that HCV proteins, core, NS3/4A, NS4B, and NS5A, contribute to the resistance of HCV to IFN and ribavirin (RBV) treatments.

Aim: To assess the effects of HCV amino acid variations in NS3, NS4A and NS4B of HCV subtypes 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b and 6f on the response to pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) and RBV therapy.

Methods: One hundred and thirty four HCV isolates of genotypes 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b and 6f obtained from HCV patients both before and at week 4 of treatments were evaluated.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes circulating in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Thailand and their responses to combined PEG-IFN and RBV therapy.

Different genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are circulating in different areas of the world. In Thailand, distribution of HCV genotypes has been investigated mostly in the central area while the information in other regions is limited. This study aimed to determine the HCV genotypes circulating in chronic hepatitis C patients in Chiang Mai, Thailand and to investigate the response of different HCV genotypes to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) treatment.

Hepatitis C virus NS5A disrupts STAT1 phosphorylation and suppresses type I interferon signaling.

Responses to alpha interferon (IFN-α)-based treatment are dependent on both host and viral factors and vary markedly among patients infected with different hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes (GTs). Patients infected with GT3 viruses consistently respond better to IFN treatment than do patients infected with GT1 viruses. The mechanisms underlying this difference are not well understood.

A novel multiplex RT-PCR for identification of VP6 subgroups of human and porcine rotaviruses.

VP6 protein antigens allow classification of rotaviruses into at least four subgroups, depending on the presence or absence of SG-specific epitopes: SG I, SG II, SG (I+II), and SG non-(I+II). However, MAbs against epitopes on the VP6 protein of human and porcine rotaviruses, sometimes, do not recognize SG-specific epitopes or recognize irrelevant-SG epitopes and therefore result in the incorrect assignment of subgroups. In order to solve this problem, a novel multiplex RT-PCR was developed as an alternative tool to identify VP6 genogroups using newly designed primers which are specific for genogroup I or II.

Genotypic distribution of hepatitis C virus in voluntary blood donors of northern Thailand.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of HCV genotypes among voluntary blood donors in northern Thailand. From 1998 to 2000, 167 serum samples which tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies in the screening of voluntary blood donors from 5 provinces in northern Thailand were selected for genotyping. Viral RNA was extracted from the sera.

Analysis of the VP6 gene of human and porcine group A rotavirus strains with unusual subgroup specificities.

Full-length VP6 amino acid sequences of human and porcine rotaviruses with subgroup (SG) (I + II) and SG non-(I + II) were analyzed in comparison with those of SG I and SG II. In human rotaviruses, the strains in the same SG shared a very high degree of amino acid identity, ranging from 97.4% to 99.

Genetic diversity of norovirus, sapovirus, and astrovirus isolated from children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Norovirus (NV), sapovirus (SV), and human astrovirus (HAstV) are important causes of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children. This study investigated the prevalence of NV, SV, and HAstV infections in children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Mai, Thailand from May 2000 to March 2002. Fecal specimens were tested for NV, SV, and HAstV by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate specific primers.

Occult hepatitis C virus infection during an outbreak in a hemodialysis unit in Thailand.

Control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hemodialysis populations is a major public health priority, but the preferred methods to prevent and rapidly detect HCV outbreaks in these populations remains subject to debate. We enrolled 231 hemodialysis patients at three dialysis centers in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Patients were followed every 6 months for 3 years and tested for the presence of serum HCV antibody and HCV RNA at each visit.

Multiple combinations of P[13]-like genotype with G3, G4, and G5 in porcine rotaviruses.

Epidemiological surveillance of porcine rotavirus (PoRV) strains was carried out in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, from 2002 to 2003, and eight rotavirus isolates could not be completely typed by PCR. Of these, six were G3 and one was G4 and displayed a P-nontypeable genotype, while another isolate was both G and P nontypeable. Analysis of a partial VP4 gene of all eight P-nontypeable strains revealed a high degree of amino acid sequence identities (94.

WITHDRAWN: Molecular Characterization of VP4 and VP7 Genes of Nontypeable Strains Identifies a Novel P[28] Genotype in Porcine Rotaviruses.

This article has been retracted.