Multigene tracking of quasispecies in viral persistence and clearance of hepatitis C virus

Table 3 Comparison of changes in genetic diversity of viral strains in individuals with self -limited and persistent viremia¹.

Patient group	Number of patients	Time points2	Interval (wk)	Change in genetic diversity (×10–2)
				E1	HVR1	E2
Clearance	2	B vs A	3.75±0.35	0.08±0.20	0.30±0.71	–0.37±0.04
Persistence	3	B vs A	12.67±9.86	–0.20±0.14	3.22±0.68a	0.17±0.11
		C vs A	20.0±12.16	0.06±0.23	4.10±2.35	0.21±0.39
		B vs C	7.33±3.03	–0.26±0.11	–0.89±1.81	0.15±0.71

¹Genetic diversity was assessed by using the DNADIST program, maximum-likelihood. The data are represented as mean±SE. Negative values indicate a reduction in genetic diversity of viral strains; positive values indicate an increase in genetic diversity of viral strains.

²The first time point (A) corresponds to the baseline, the second (B) and the third (C) after antibody seroconversion.

^aP<0.05 time points B vs A of self-limited vs persistent viremia by unpaired Welch’s t test.