Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

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• Classification: Positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus, enveloped; Flaviviridae family.
• Pathogenic activity: HCV causes chronic liver infection and inflammation but also exerts systemic immunomodulatory effects, weakening the host’s ability to fight co-infections.

HCV is often found in combination with pathogens like CMV, EBV, and Chlamydia pneumoniae in vascular tissues. She specifically detected HCV in atheromatous plaques and described it as a co-factor in the progression of systemic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases.

Health issues: Beyond hepatitis and liver fibrosis, Clark saw HCV as contributing to plaque formation in arteries, chronic inflammation, and multi-organ vulnerability to further infection.