Resistance-associated variants in the non-structural protein 5B region in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection in Guangxi, China

Objective To investigate the incidence rate of resistance-associated variants ( RAVs) in the non-structural protein 5B (NS5B) region in patients with hepatitis C virus ( HCV) genotype 1b ( GT1b) infection in Guangxi, China, as well as its difference between male and female patients. Methods A total of 60 previously untreated patients with HCV GT1b infection who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from April 2016 to September 2018 were enrolled. Their baseline serum samples were collected. The NS5B region fragments were amplified by nested PCR and gene sequencing was performed, and then the sequencing results were compared with standard strains in GeneBank. The t-test was used for comparison of age, HCV RNA, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT) , and aspartate aminotransferase ( AST) between male and female patients, and the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of mutation rate of drug-resistance sites. Results Of all 60 patients, 55 obtained the complete sequence information of the NS5B region, and the incidence rate of RAVs in the NS5B region was 96. 3%. C316 ( 94. 5%) , A338 ( 70. 9%) , and T19 ( 74. 5%) were the main mutation sites, and multisite mutations such as C316 + T19 and C316 + T19 + A338 were observed. There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of RAVs between male patients and female patients [95. 8% ( 23/24) vs 96. 8% ( 30/31) , P = 1. 000]. Conclusion Patients with HCV GT1b infection in Guangxi have a high incidence rate of RAVs in the NS5B region, with both single-site and multisite mutations.There is no significant difference in the incidence rate of RAVs between male and female patients.