Dynamic analysis of heterogeneous hepatitis C virus populations by direct solid-phase sequencing.

In the present study, we used a semiautomated solid-phase direct sequencing method to analyze sequence diversity and variation of the hypervariable E2/NS1 region in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome in isolates from patients seropositive for HCV. A total of 24 isolates of various origins were sequenced. Six of the patients, not subject to any antiviral therapy, were monitored longitudinally, and rapid sequence variations were observed over a period of 14 months. The nucleotide change rate was found to be 0.1 to 0.2 nucleotide substitution per genome site per year. Furthermore, isolates from five of the patients were used for a comparative study of the direct solid-phase sequencing approach versus the frequently used approach of sequencing individual reverse transcriptase PCR clones. The advantage of direct solid-phase sequencing for studying dynamic changes in heterogeneous populations of HCV is discussed.