In light of the escalating issue of tuberculosis resistance, it is imperative to consistently evaluate and examine therapeutic strategies. This study focus on genotypic and phenotypic detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among HIV patients attending tuberculosis reference centres in Northwest, Nigeria. A total of 503 sputum samples were collected aseptically among three referral facilities in Northwest using random sampling method. Molecular drug susceptibility testing was performed using Geno Type® MTBD Rplus assay. The overall prevalence was 4.3 %. The highest prevalence in relation to state was observed from Katsina (22.2 %) and the lowest was from Sokoto (3.6 %). The highest prevalence was observed among male patients (4.8%) while the female patients (3.4%). Age 66-70 yrs recorded the highest prevalence (100 %) and the lowest was 36-40 yrs and 41-45yrs (4.4 %). The highest resistance patterns were isolates from Kebbi were resistance to INH+ RIF+ FLQ (50.0 %) and the lowest was from Kaduna INH+ AMG (20.0 %). Routine TB testing among HIV patients must be improved to guide co-management

BACKGROUND: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a crucial healthcare priority in implementing the World Health Organization's Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. AIM: To analyze the accumulated experience in epidemiological modeling and real-world data regarding the treatment of patients with CHC, which will allow for a more accurate assessment of the prognosis for hepatitis C elimination in the Perm Region. METHODS: A Markov model for CHC progression was constructed; an assessment of the development of the epidemic situation regarding hepatitis C virus infection in the Perm Region was conducted. A single-center cohort retrospective descriptive analysis of the data from 1,041 patients with confirmed diagnosis of CHC who received direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy between 2020 and 2024 in medical institutions of the Perm Region. RESULTS: Based on the mathematical modeling results, the most realistic scenario for hepatitis C elimination in the Perm Region, which aligns best with the current organization of medical care for CHC patients in the region, appears to be the scenario based on increasing the number of patients receiving therapy to 2,500 per year with the gradual removal of restrictions regarding liver fibrosis stage. According to the results of the analysis of real-world data, the applied pangenotypic antiviral therapy (AVT) regimens provide high efficacy (97.98%), which confirms the justification for expanding AVT patient coverage. The overall efficacy of the velpatasvir + sofosbuvir (VEL/SOF) regimen without ribavirin, the glecaprevir + pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) regimen, or sofosbuvir + daclatasvir (SOF+DAC) without ribavirin with standard therapy duration was 98%. AVT regimens were highly effective regardless of genotype (GT) ( 96%) or liver fibrosis stage ( 97%). In patients with liver cirrhosis and GT 3, the efficacy of GLE/PIB and SOF+DAC regimens without ribavirin was 100%, and for the VEL/SOF regimen – 98.11%. Among patients with advanced liver fibrosis (F3) and GT 3, the efficacy of pangenotypic AVT regimens was also high (≥ 95%). CONCLUSION: The conducted modeling of the CHC epidemic situation, as well as the analysis of real-world data on CHC patient therapy in the Perm Region, indicate the possibility of achieving the global goal of CHC elimination in the region, which is directly linked to the use of effective DAA AVT regimens in the region's medical organizations.

Human brucellosis is a re-emerging disease in Yunnan, China, that poses serious threats to public health. However, the species/biovars, geographic distribution, and genetic diversity profile of circulating strains remain unclear. In this study, bacteriology procedures, AMOS-PCR, agglutination tests with anti-A and anti-M monospecific sera, and multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) genotyping approaches were applied to investigate the genetic diversity profile of the strains. A total of 514 B. melitensis strains were isolated and identified from 2017 to 2023, of which 498 were in biovar (bv.) 3 and 16 were in bv. 1; the strains were distributed in 12 cities/prefectures and 67 counties. These data show that human B. melitensis infection has become a serious public health challenge. Moreover, 514 strains were sorted into three MLVA-11 clusters (I–III): those strains harboring 15 MLVA-11 genotypes, those strains belonging to the Eastern Mediterranean lineage, and those strains exhibiting high genetic diversity. MLVA-16 was used to divide 514 strains into eight (a–h) clades that contained 208 MLVA-16 genotypes (GTs), of which 96 shared GTs comprising 402 strains, with a cluster rate of 78.21%, suggesting that the disease was potentially dominated by a cluster epidemic; however, further genome sequence analysis is necessary to uncover the epidemic pattern of the disease. The remaining 112 GTs were unique (single strain), suggesting they were linked to sporadic cases rather than a cluster epidemic. A nationwide MLVA-16 comparison showed that 81 genotypes were shared by strains from the present study and strains from 29 other provinces, implying that strains from the nationally recognized B. melitensis genotypes were continuously spread. However, further genome-based analysis is necessary to identify the transmission chain and source of infection. Another MLVA-16 comparison with global datasets showed that the strains in this study had genotypes that were completely identical to strains from Asia (Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Iraq and India) and Europe (Portugal, Spain, and Greece), indicating that these strains belonged to internationally recognized lineages. Further genome analysis is needed to identify the phylogenetic relationships of these strains. The present study describes a comprehensive scenario involving bio-typing and genetic diversity characteristics of B. melitensis strains, which can provide vital clues to tailor surveillance and control measures for human brucellosis.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-025-04372-y.

Treatment recommendations for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 3b infection and cirrhosis remain unclear. This multicentre randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of 12-week treatment with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir plus ribavirin (arm A) versus sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (arm B) in direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-naïve patients with HCV GT3b with compensated cirrhosis. Patients with HCV GT3b infection and compensated cirrhosis from eight sites in China were randomised 1:1 into arms A (n = 30) or B (n = 31) for 12 weeks of treatment and 12 weeks of follow-up. The primary endpoint was sustained virological response (SVR) at week 12 Posttreatment. Baseline characteristics were balanced across both arms. Seven participants did not complete treatment (arm A, 4; arm B, 3). The SVR proportions were lower in arm A (70%, 95% CI 52-83) than in arm B (90%, 95% CI 75-97) (p = 0.046) in the intention-to-treat analysis. Per-protocol analysis showed SVR proportions of 81% (95% CI, 62-91) in arm A and 100% (95% CI, 88-100) in arm B (p = 0.021). All five virological failures were in arm A. 98.3% (60/61) of the participants had baseline dual resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) A30K and L31M and all had dual RASs at relapse, with several new RASs emerging. Both regimens were well tolerated, with one serious adverse event in arm A. Compared to sofosbuvir/velpatasvir plus ribavirin, 12 weeks of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir treatment suggests a higher SVR proportion in DAA-naïve patients with HCV GT3b with compensated cirrhosis. Clinical Trial Number: NCT05467826.

Impact of Resistance Associated Substitutions and Predictors of Treatment Failure Following Direct-acting Antiviral Therapy in a Viral Hepatitis C Elimination Cohort.

Background & objectivesGenomic diversity of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), accessibility and long-term influence of Direct Acting Antiviral (DAA) treatment remain underexplored among HCV-infected chronic liver disease (CLD) patients in the real world. This retrospective study addressed the inadequacy of assessing the effectiveness of DAA and identify genotype-specific variations in treatment response in the context of HCV epidemiology. Additionally, real-world treatment challenges encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and the transitional phase of implementing the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) guidelines have also been addressed.MethodsThis retrospective study included 254 CLD patients from November 2017 and February 2020 to assess the effectiveness of DAA and long-term treatment outcomes among CLD patients.ResultsHCV viremia was observed in 58.26% (n = 148) patients. Patients aged 52–59 years with a history of blood transfusions exhibited a higher prevalence of active HCV infection. Two major genotypes (GT) - GT1 and GT3, and seven subtypes with few new subtypes were identified. SVR24 was achieved in 89.6% of patients receiving sofosbuvir (SOF) + daclatasvir (DCV) or SOF/ledipasvir (LDV) drug regimens. For individuals who failed to reach SVR24 (n = 13), a modified regimen (SOF + Velpatasvir (VEL) + ribavirin (Riba) for 6 months) was given and the success rate was 92.31%. GT-1a and GT-1b showed better treatment response, whereas GT-3b had a lower treatment response. Among 77 SVR24 achieved patients, 57.14% were cirrhotic and 42.86% were non-cirrhotic at the start of the therapy.Interpretation & conclusionThis study highlights genotype-specific variations in treatment response, with GT-3b exhibiting lower treatment response which highlights the need to decipher the reasons behind treatment failure for future therapeutic management.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-025-11565-3.

A mutation detection strategy based on mismatch digestion was applied previously in barley seedlings carrying the chloroplast mutator (cpm) genotype through many generations. Sixty-one mutations were detected along with four large indels: a 15 bp insertion in the intergenic region between tRNAHis and rps19 genes, a 620 bp deletion in the psbA gene, a 79 bp deletion in the intergenic region between rpl33 and rps18 genes and a 45 bp deletion in the rps3 gene. The present investigation aims to understand the mechanisms producing the large indels and to better characterize the cpm mutagenic effect. Whole plastome sequencing revealed novel polymorphisms that were identified either in regions not previously examined or in regions that were explored but not detected through celery juice extract (CJE) digestion. The 620 bp deletion in the psbA gene was lethal when homoplastomic, whereas the 45 bp deletion in the rps3 gene did not affect the viability of the seedlings even in homoplastomy. The presence of direct repeats at the borders of large indels suggests that they could have originated by illegitimate recombination because of CPM protein malfunction. A truncated mismatch repair MSH1 protein identified in cpm seedlings suggests that CPM is involved in organellar genome stability maintenance.

FOXP3 gene polymorphisms are associated with indeterminate clinical form of Chagas disease.

ABSTRACT Nakaseomyces glabrata (former name: Candida glabrata) is the second most common cause of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), but its molecular epidemiology and antifungal resistance in China remain poorly understood. This study analysed 204 N. glabrata isolates from VVC patients in Suzhou, Eastern China, using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and microsatellite genotyping, alongside antifungal susceptibility testing. A total of 46 sequence types (STs) were identified by MLST, as well as 146 genotypes (GTs) revealed by microsatellite. According to MLST, ST7 was the predominant ST in vaginal N. glabrata isolates, along with a considerably high proportion (32/46, 69.6%) of novel STs. Notably, 27 STs were unique singletons, of which 25 unique STs were newly defined in this investigation. Microsatellite genotyping revealed a similar pattern as MLST with high variability. Population genetic analysis revealed evidence of recombination and ST7 could be the founding population of other related STs. However, there was no significant association between the genotypes and resistance phenotypes. Molecular epidemiology of N. glabrata associated with VVC revealed high genetic variability and the presence of novel genotypes in China. This study highlights the unique genetic profile of vaginal N. glabrata isolates in Suzhou, with the majority of resistant strains belonging to ST7.

The objective of the study was to assess the genetic diversity of the Tornjak shepherd dog by analyzing 10 micro- satellite loci. The dogs were divided into three main groups: Tornjaks from Bosnia and Herzegovina (TBA), Tornjaks from Croatia (THR), and a control group containing four subgroups: German Shepherd (GS), Belgian Shepherd (BS), crossbreeds of Tornjaks and other breeds (MIXT), and various other dog breeds (MIXA). The average number of genotypes (GN) and alleles (AN) was 19.2 and 8.4 (TBA), 8.2 and 5.4 (THR), 7.9 and 5.1 (BS), 4.4 and 3.6 (GS), 7.6 and 5.5 (MIXT), and 8.6 and 6.0 (MIXA), respectively. The average values of observed (HO) and expected heterozy- gosity (HE) were 0.7261 and 0.7392 (TBA); 0.7625 and 0.7139 (THR); 0.6857 and 0.6837 (BS); 0.4900 and 0.4640 (GS); 0.6786 and 0.6760 (MIXT); and 0.7067 and 0.7160 (MIXA), respectively. In the TBA population, “private” alleles were observed at all ten loci. The average overall inbreeding coefficient (F) value between the Tornjak and the control group was 0.0768. The AMOVA test revealed the highest degree of variation within the TBA group (55.43%), while no significant variations were observed in the control subgroup GS. The smallest differentiation for TBA was found with THR at 1.86% used the pairwise FST (pFST). The constructed Neighbor-Joining (NJ) dendrogram shows clear grouping of TBA and THR in comparison to the breeds of the control group. In relation to the data presented, a high level heterogeneity of has been established in the studied Tornjak population (TBA).

Hepatitis C is of low endemicity (<2%) in the general population in Cameroon, with genotypes (GTs) 1, 2 and 4 reported frequently identified. In 2016, direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) were included in the Treatment Guidelines for hepatitis C in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to investigate hepatitis C virus (HCV) variability and frequency of NS5B naturally occurring polymorphisms and transmitted resistance-associated mutations or substitutions (RAMs or RASs) in DAAs-naïve patients. From 240 HCV-infected, DAA-naïve individuals, the NS5B region of 92 samples were sequenced, genotyped by phylogeny using MEGA 11.0.13 software and analysed for polymorphisms conferring resistance to polymerase inhibitors using bioinformatics tools (Geno2Pheno HCV 0.92 and BioEdit version 7.2.5). Thirty-two GT1 (34.8%), 37 GT2 (40.2%), 22 GT4 (23.9%) and 1 GT5 (1.1%), 13 subtypes (1e, 1g, 1h, 1j, 1l, 2j, 2r, 4a, 4f, 4l, 4p, 4t and 5a) were found. Thirty-four GT2 sequences clustered together without any reference sequences and therefore could not be subtyped. The NS5B S282T resistance-associated substitutions was not detected in any sample. However, the polymorphisms of unreported resistance-associated impact in positions 316 and 321 were identified: C316H (8.7%), C316N (18.5%), V321I (6.5%) and a double mutant C316H/V321I (4.3%). Comparison of GTs obtained by a commercial PCR kit versus Sanger sequencing and phylogeny of the NS5B region, showed a discrepancy of 30%. Genotype 5 was identified for the first time in Cameroon. The frequency of V321I and C316H/N polymorphism with unknown impact on NS5B polymerase inhibitors is increasing in Cameroon.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of genotype (GT) and seasonality (NP) on the quality parameters of sow colostrum and evaluate the efficiency of the radial immunodiffusion (RID) analysis and the Brix refractometer in determining the IgG concentration. This study was conducted on 240 sows that originated from two genotypes, namely GT1 (TOPIGS, n = 120) and GT2 (Pig Improvement Company, n = 120), during the three farrowing periods: the winter farrowing period (WNP, n = 80), the summer farrowing period (SMP, n = 80) and the spring farrowing period (SSP, n = 80). The significant interaction effect was observed for protein (p < 0.0001), lactose (p < 0.05) and non-fat solids (SNT) (p < 0.001). At the same time, the interaction effect influenced the IgG concentration measured with the Brix refractometer (p < 0.0001) and RID (p < 0.0001). Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that Brix percentage was positively correlated with RID results (r = 0.52, p < 0.0001), while the Bland-Altman plots indicated a mean bias of -1.93. Partial eta-squared analysis (η2) showed that the genotype explained the largest proportion of variance in fat content (η2 = 0.136) and IgG concentration (η2 = 0.164), while interaction effects were largest for protein (η2 = 0.072). The results of this study show that genotype and seasonality influence sow colostrum quality, which indicates the importance of genotype-seasonality interactions in breeding programs for optimizing the colostrum quality and piglet survival.

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increases the risk of mortality and morbidity among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the advancement of HCV treatment has made this viral infection curable. Thus, the main objective of this study was to comprehend the HCV genotype (GT) distribution and the efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) among CKD patients in West Bengal.MethodsOver five years (January 2017 to December 2021), 310 HCV sero-reactive patients were enrolled in this observational prospective study. HCV RNA was quantified using qRT-PCR. The partial amplification of the core (405 bp) and NS5B (389 bp) region was performed by nested RT-PCR followed by Sanger sequencing for HCV genotype analysis using the NCBI genotyping tool. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using the MEGA-X tool.ResultsThe occurrence of HCV RNA positivity was 50.64% (n = 157), and of these 157 patients, 141 (89.81%) completed the DAAs treatment. The most important observation of the study was the prevalence of uncommon HCV genotype GT-1c (67.52%) followed by 1a, 4a, 3a, 1b, and 3b among CKD patients. The overall DAAs efficacy between January 2017 and December 2018 was ~ 97%, and in January 2019 and December 2021, ~ 95% among CKD patients. At the same time, in these two phases, DAAs efficacy among GT-1c-infected CKD patients was ˜ 96% and ˜ 93%, respectively.ConclusionsThe prevalence of GT-1c among CKD patients was unusual in this geographic region. The overall efficacy of DAAs among the CKD population was encouraging. However, the downtrend of the DAAs efficacy in GT-1c may increase concern among this high-risk group in the future.Clinical trialNot applicable.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a significant public health concern. In order to contribute to the epidemiological data, the present investigation aimed to examine the prevalence of antibodies against the virus, viremia, incidence rates of co-infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the genotypes (GTs) of HCV among patients in the capital city of Turkey. This study was conducted retrospectively at Sincan Training and Research Hospital between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2023. The patients' demographic data were obtained from the hospital database. The samples of patients were analyzed for the presence of anti-HCV by using Architect anti-HCV kit (Abbott Laboratories, USA) and MAGLUMI HIV Ab/AgCombi (SNIBE, Shenzen, China), and for the presence of HCV-RNA (QIAsymphony). They were also analyzed using the SP/AS method (Qiagen, Germany) with the QIAsymphony DSP virus/pathogen midi kit, and the polymerase chain reaction was performed by using the Rotor-Gene-Q (Qiagen, Germany) and Artus HCV QS-RGQ kit. Genotyping for HCV was conducted on all patients with detectable viral load. To confirm the presence of HIV in patients with viremia, a supplemental assay for HIV-1/2 (Bio-Rad, USA) was employed. Additionally, the HCV/HIV co-infection rate was calculated. A total of 63,226 patient samples were analyzed. Of the 522 patients who were found to be anti-HCV positive, 267 were patients admitted from prison. Anti-HCV prevalence among inmates in 2021, 2022, and 2023 was 3.8%, 4.2%, and 2.7%, respectively. The study revealed a prevalence of 0.8% for HCV antibody positivity and a viremia prevalence of 0.4%. Among 239 patients, HCV GT3 (27.9%) was found to be the most common GT, and this was followed by GT1 (26.2%), GT2 (7%), and GT4 (4.1%). Genotyping revealed that subtype 1b was present in 36.5% of GT1 patients, and subtype 1a was present in 33.3%. HCV/HIV co-infection rates were detected as 4.1%. Our study will contribute to the elimination programs of HCV, an important public health problem, and the epidemiological data in our region.

Background/Objectives: In the Aosta Valley, the alpine grazing system integrates livestock production and land management. Valdostana breeding has adapted to this mountainous region, but the spread of Staphylococcus aureus within pastures may impact animal health. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of S. aureus genotypes associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence profiles in four dairy herds in the Aosta Valley from July 2022 to August 2023. Methods: A total of 468 composite milk samples were collected at three timepoints: T1 (pasture-livestock system), T2 (farm-livestock system), and T3 (pasture-livestock system). S. aureus isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, ribosomal spacer (RS)-PCR, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), PCR analysis for 28 virulence genes and 6 AMR genes, and adlb-targeted real-time PCR. Results: RS-PCR analysis of 82 S. aureus strains revealed 12 genotypes (GT) in eight clusters (CL). The most prevalent variant was GTRI (61%), followed by GTB (15%). Resistance to penicillin was high (69%), with CLR strains showing 88% resistance, and 51% resistance to amoxicillin plus clavulanate. All strains were susceptible to cephalosporins and oxacillin. Macrolide resistance was low (4%), and multi-drug resistance was 6%. AMR gene presence corresponded with susceptibility, with blaZ detected in 94% of CLR strains. CLR strains also possessed genes for biofilm formation and virulence factors. Conclusions: This study highlights the presence of AMR and virulence factors in S. aureus strains from alpine grazing systems, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring to mitigate risks to animal health.

The availability and quality of organic seeds are critical challenges for organic farming, with nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) being crucial for improving productivity. This study, part of the H2020 BRESOV project, assessed the effects of three nutritional protocols (NPs) on eight broccoli genotypes (GEs), comprising two commercial F1 hybrids and six Sicilian landraces. The tested NPs included formulations containing Trichoderma species, organic nitrogen, and essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, carbon, boron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. This trial was conducted on an organic farm in Adrano (CT). Plants were evaluated for key traits related to growth, development, and seed production. NUE was analyzed to measure the efficiency of nitrogen conversion from soil into seed production. Significant interactions between NPs and GEs were observed for all seed yield components and most morphometric traits, except for secondary branches and root width, varying significantly only among the tested genotypes. The Sicilian landraces Broccolo nero and Sparaceddi showed the highest seed yield, overcoming the productive performances of the commercial hybrids F1 Marathon and Gentleman. Broccolo nero, grown using amino acid microbial consortia applied solely via fertigation (NP1), exhibited the highest NUE, indicating a positive nitrogen balance relative to seed yield and soil nitrogen content. Principal component analysis (PCA) grouped the genotypes into five distinct clusters based on the analyzed bio-morphometric traits and on the effect of the treatment. The Broccolo nero and Sparaceddi genotypes formed two distinct groups, clearly differentiated by their unique morphological traits related to plant biomass and seed production. Additionally, both genotypes exhibited distinct responses to the applied nutrition protocols, with positive results compared to the control condition. These results underscore the potential of the broccoli landraces for organic farming and breeding due to their adaptability, resilience, and superior NUE.

HCV genotype (GT) 3 is associated with rapid liver disease progression. However, the liver disease progression and its risk factors in patients with HCV GT 3 infection after sustained virological response (SVR) following direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the liver disease progression of patients with GT 3 after SVR. This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with HCV infection who achieved SVR by DAAs. The clinical outcome was overall liver disease progression (OLDP), defined as newly diagnosed compensated liver cirrhosis, decompensated liver cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. The incidence of OLDP was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox regression analysis identified the risk factors for OLDP. A total of 409 patients (46.9% GT3) were followed for 43.7 (32.9, 58.7) months. The incidence of OLDP was higher in patients with GT 3 (4.63/100PY) than non-GT 3 (0.60/100PY; P < 0.001). According to Cox multivariate analysis, GT 3 was significantly associated with OLDP (HR 6.41, 95% CI 1.82 - 22.56; P=0.004). The predictors of OLDP in patients with GT 3 were HCV recurrence (HR 12.15, 95% CI 3.18 - 46.46; P < 0.001) and FIB-4 > 3.25 (HR 16.40, 95% CI 1.03 - 39.81; P = 0.046) at baseline. HCV GT 3-infected patients remain at a higher risk of OLDP even after achieving SVR by DAAs, especially patients with advanced liver fibrosis and at high risk for reinfection or virological late relapse.

Evaluation of a next generation sequencing assay for Hepatitis B antiviral drug resistance on the oxford nanopore system.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a significant cause of liver disease and cancer worldwide. Understanding the genetic factors influencing HBV evolution is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Host genetic and environmental factors particularly influence the evolution of this infection. Recent studies have implicated the ECM1 gene in HBV pathogenesis, mainly two specific polymorphisms (rs3834087 and rs3754217). In an African cohort, we comprehensively analyzed these ECM1 gene polymorphisms and their association with HBV evolution.In this case-control analysis, 167 samples, consisting of 59 controls and 108 cases, were examined. The cases included 50 patients with Chronic Hepatitis B(CHB), 16 with cirrhosis, and 42 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Genomic DNA extraction was executed using INVITROGEN and FAVORGEN kits. Genotyping of rs3834087 and rs3754217 polymorphisms in the ECM1 gene was accomplished via real-time PCR on the QuantStudioTM 5 Real-Time instrument, followed by allelic discrimination using TaqMan Genotyper Software. Data was interpreted using SPSS version 20 and Epi info version 7.5.2.0. Odds ratios (OR), confidence intervals (CI), and p-values were derived for risk and significance evaluation.In our study, the heterozygous genotype (GT) of rs3754217 could confer protection to controls against the onset of chronic hepatitis in the event of infection (OR=0.05; CI=0.006-0.46; p=0.002). In addition, carriage of mutated alleles of the two (2) polymorphisms was associated with the course of infection and may influence the appearance of severe forms at certain stages of the disease.Our study is the first to assess the association between polymorphisms (rs3834087 and rs3754217) in the ECM1 gene and the course of HBV infection in Burkina Faso. It showed that combining specific genotypes of the two (2) polymorphisms would be associated with protection against chronic hepatitis.

Modeling 5-Year Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Alaska Native Peoples With Hepatitis B Virus Infection