ABSTRACT
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exhibits significant genomic variability, which poses challenges for effective vaccine development. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of HCV is crucial for designing vaccines that can offer broad protection against diverse strains.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the genomic variability of HCV and its evolutionary dynamics to inform vaccine development strategies.
Methods: A cohort of 90 patients diagnosed with HCV was studied from March 2023 to February 2024. Viral RNA was extracted from patient serum samples and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic and bioinformatic analyses were conducted to assess genetic diversity, identify prevalent mutations, and elucidate evolutionary patterns. Comparative analyses with reference sequences were performed to determine the implications for vaccine antigen design.
Results: The study identified a high degree of genetic diversity within the HCV genome among the study population. Several new mutations were discovered, indicating ongoing viral evolution. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct evolutionary lineages, with certain genotypes showing higher variability. These findings highlighted specific regions of the HCV genome that are critical for immune recognition and thus important targets for vaccine development.
Conclusion: The genomic variability and evolutionary dynamics of HCV observed in this study underscore the complexity of developing a universal vaccine. However, the identification of conserved regions across diverse strains provides a promising foundation for future vaccine design. Continuous surveillance of HCV genetic diversity is essential to keep up with the evolving viral landscape and to inform adaptive vaccine strategies.
Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, genomic variability, evolutionary dynamics, vaccine development, phylogenetic analysis, genetic diversity, next-generation sequencing.