Evidence that the second human pegivirus (HPgV-2) is primarily a lymphotropic virus and can replicate independent of HCV replication.

ABSTRACT: The second human pegivirus HPgV-2 is a novel blood-borne virus that is strongly associated with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the molecular evidence for their association as well as the natural history and tissue tropism of HPgV-2 remain to be elucidated. In this longitudinal study, a total of 753 patients including 512 HIV-1 and HCV co-infected patients were enrolled to characterize the natural history of HPgV-2 infection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and liver biopsies were collected to determine the tissue tropism of HPgV-2 using immunohistochemical staining of the HPgV-2 antigen and in situ hybridization of HPgV-2 RNA. We documented both persistent HPgV-2 infection with the presence of HPgV-2 viral RNA and antibodies up to 4.6 years and resolved HPgV-2 i

SUBMITTER: Wan Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7054972 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature