Phylogenetic and phylogeographic investigation of the evolutionary origins and epidemic emergence of HCV.

To unravel how current HCV diversity was generated and how hepaciviruses were transmitted to humans and domesticated mammals, we aim to screen a unique set of rodent and bat samples from both Africa and Asia and generate complete genome data from the positives using NGS technologies. We will perform a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of hepacivirus evolution, focusing on its evolutionary time scale, the impact of recombination and molecular adaption associated with cross-species transmissions.