Human leukocyte antigen supertypes and hepatitis C virus infection.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 84
Description: Hypothesis. The alleles encoding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules that present viral epitopes required for effective immune responses should be associated with lower risk of HCV infection.  Purpose/design. To determine which HLA supertype alleles (functional allelic groupings) are associated with HCV infection, HLA supertypes and behavioral factors were examined in participants from the Vancouver Injection Drug User Study open cohort, grouped according to HCV serostatus (93 seronegative, 120 seropositive). HCV seronegative participants were followed prospectively for factors associated with seroconversion. Results. No HLA supertypes were associated with HCV seronegativity or decreased seroconversion. Class I HLA supertype B62 was associated with increased HCV seroconversion (HR 2.35, p = 0.02). Individual class II HLA alleles and behavioral factors were associated with HCV serostatus and seroconversion. Conclusions . HLA associations with HCV infection might aid in the identification of epitopes important in HCV infection. For broad population coverage, HLA supertypes should be considered in epitope-based vaccine design.
Notes: Adviser:  Kelly S. MacDonald.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-03, page: 0817.

MICR copy on microfiche (1 microfiche).