Sequences in the hypervariable region 1 of hepatitis C virus show only minimal variability in the presence of antibodies against hypervariable region 1 during acute infection in chimpanzees

Summary.

 We analyzed sequences of hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in six chimpanzees, experimentally infected with a single HCV inoculum, to clarify the correlation between HVR1 mutation and antibodies to HVR1. Two chimpanzees had been immunized with synthetic HVR1 peptides before HCV inoculation. All six animals became infected with HCV but cleared the infection within the acute phase. The major HVR1 sequences in longitudinal sera were unchanged in animals both with and without anti-HVR1 antibodies. Additionally, sequences of HVR1 variants in each chimpanzee converged after 11 to 19 weeks. The data show that anti-HVR1 antibodies are unlikely to drive variation in HVR1.