Positive Selection of Core 70Q Variant Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus Strains Induced by Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin

Abstract

Presence of the 70Q quasispecies at baseline was associated with an increased risk of treatment failure, as indicated by the positive selection of the 70Q clones induced by treatment with pegylated interferon with ribavirin. These results urge further investigation of the mechanisms of this association.