Hepatitis C (isolate 1)

Classification Lineage Viruses; ssRNA viruses; ssRNA positive-strand viruses, no DNA stage; Flaviviridae; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C virus

Description and significance

Describe the disease caused by this organism if it is a pathogen, or the natural macroscopic "field guide" appearance and habitat of your organism if it is not. What is or has been the impact your organism on human history or our environment?. How does it do this? How have we harnessed this power, or tried to prevent it? In other words, how do you know it if you see it, and how does its presence influence humans in the present, and historically?

The Hepatitis C Virus is comprised of 6 seperaate genotypes. Genotype 1a (isolate 1) being the most prevalent and hard to cure strain (cite pub med). This genotype is estimated to have evolved from its ancestral strain some 400 years ago, this information was deduced using gene sequencing (cite something). The Hepatitis C Virus 1a genotype (isolate 1), or HCV, is pathogenic to humans. HCV is a blood-blood transmitted virus that is prevalent in developing countries. HCV is not a vector borne virus and is only transferred from humans to humans.

Genome structure Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes and plasmids? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Cell structure, metabolism & life cycle Provide a physical and biochemical description of the organism. What kind of organism is it, what does it look like, how is it built, what are its metabolic properties, how can it be identified, what is it's life cycle, &c. In other words, describe the organism from its perspective.

Ecology (including pathogenesis) 

Describe its habitat, symbiosis, and contributions to environment. If it is a pathogen, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Describe virulence factors and patient symptoms. Interesting feature

The Hepatitis C Virus 1a genotype (isolate 1), or HCV, is pathogenic to humans. An infection of HCV can result in two types of infections, a chronic or an acute infection. Those who contact HCV and display no symptoms are considered to have a chronic infection, however a chronic infection is not characterized by infection without symptoms as a chronic infection can be an infection displaying symptoms for 3-20 years (cite pub med). Symptoms for a HCV infection include:

   -Abdominal pain (right upper abdomen)
   -Abdominal swelling
   -Bleeding from the esophagus or stomach (due to dilated veins in the esophagus or stomach called varices
   -Dark urine
   -Fatigue
   -Fever
   -Itching
   -Jaundice
   -Loss of appetite
   -Nausea
   -Pale or clay-colored stools
   -Vomiting

Most of these symptoms stem from the nature of the HCV. This 'nature' is that the HCV infects the liver, this infection is manifested as swelling or inflammation of the liver.

Describe in detail one particularly interesting aspect of your organism or it's affect on humans or the environment.

References [Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.