Genotypes why are their different strains

[bajawoman]

Does anyone know why there are different strains in different parts of the world  

What is the difference from Genotype 1a and 1b which is found in North America
there must be some difference or why the classification ?

Is there Genotype 2a and 2b?  

Just curious what makes the virus change strains because of origin of different  continents?   is it Climate ?Genetic make up?  

Seems that they genotypes are treated differently in only in the lenth of treatment but all genotypes seem to be treated the same are they the same if so then why genotype?

Below shows sevenr types of the Hep C virus  if  1a and 1b makes eight if they are different  

How did North America and Western Europe get so lucky as to have the hardest to cure strains of the virus
seems the genotype would be siginificant in finding cures as is the individual genetic make up  

Most information here is about treatment and r cures
What Research has been made does anyone have any links to studies done on the  individual genotypes and origins
Anyone out there  
Curious what we are dealing with here or is it one type that has mutated into different genotypes  Has any research been able through DNA been able to trace Hep C back through the generations

Genotypes 1, 2 and 3 = North America and Western Europe
·
Genotype 4 = Africa, Egypt and the Middle East, but is increasingly seen in some parts of Europe
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Genotype 5 = Africa and the Middle East
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Genotype 6 = Southeast Asia
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Genotype 7 = Central Africa

[pjhep80]

ok here is the exact wording... first from Quest geno test done few years ago:

Hybridization pattern for this HCV amplification product is atypical and cannot differentiate between HCV types or subtypes.  If clinically indicated, it is recommended that a fresh specimen be resubmitted for testing.

and this from Labcor test done a month or so ago:

Although this sample had detectable HCV viral RNA (>600 IU/ml), we were unable to determine the Genotype after repeated attempts.  This is most likely due to lack of sufficient PCR product for DNA sequence analysis.

[lalapple]

from bio, i learned that species of the same ancestors sometimes get separated a while back and they can evolve into different strains of species as they adjust to different environments.. they mutate for survival of the fittest.  i guess that apply to viruses too which s-u-c-k-s

[Deb_c430]

that was a great question Baja,  some good responses, I knew a lot were regional strains,   but some very good responses!

[pjhep80]

i only tx'd once about 4 years ago for 6 months on pegasys/virimadine phase iii trial and yes the trial dr's and my personal dr considered me geno 1 ... but every dr has said 'its very strange' that my genotype cannot be determined.. they have no clue

maybe i will post on the dr forum here, i have not done that yet... have to go home and dig out the exact wording, its the same on every test and there have been alot of them haha something like 'specimen is atypical' and recommend testing again... but, every time, its the same result

with all the viral mutations going on with hcv i dont think its strange, i think maybe i am just another version of it, but they (dr;s) have laughed at me when i said that i guess they figure they would have identified that type or something

[Bill1954]

OK, that was just a thought. I’ve always maintained a viral load <150,000 IU/mL, with no genotyping problems. You might try asking Dr Dietrich in his forum; have you done that yet? I suppose your doctors are managing you as if you were genotype 1; you’ve had difficulty and treated multiple times, so I imagine you’re in for the long haul no matter what.

Good luck and I hope you eventually get to the bottom of this.

Take care—

Bill

[pjhep80]

my vl has always been around 600,000

[Bill1954]

I believe that a very low viral load will sometimes yield indeterminate genotype. What has your VL been when they test for genotype? I’ve read some of your comments over the years about the inability to type your HCV.

Bill

[bajawoman]

Maybe we are modern day vampires

[pjhep80]

wow way over my head lol .... i was hoping to find an answer to the reason why nobody knows what geno i am somewhere in there haha... i guess im a 'mutant' strain or something... like in the movie I Am Legend just saw that last night those nite crawlers were like heppers on tx haaaaa raging out of control not funy i know

[bajawoman]

wow so much to sift through but very interesting reading thanks baja

[desrt]

The link Bill posted is one of my favorites. You can always come back, read a little more, and learn a little more.
If you can get your head around that, try sections 5.0 , 6.0 , and 7.0 of the following:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=17355620

[bajawoman]

Thanks  Very interesting

[Bill1954]

This article will provide a good platform of understanding:

http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/85/11/3173

Bill