Clinical and molecular aspects of human pegiviruses in the interaction host and infectious agent

• Published in: Virology journal Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 41
• Main Authors: Samadi, Mehdi, Salimi, Vahid, Haghshenas, Mohammad Reza, Miri, Seyed Mohammad, Mohebbi, Seyed Reza, Ghaemi, Amir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 09.03.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Co-infection; Coinfection; Flaviviridae - genetics; Flaviviridae Infections; GB virus C - genetics; GBV-C; Genetic aspects; Genotype; HCV; Health aspects; Hepatitis C; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; Host-virus relationships; HPgV-1; Humans; Pegivirus; Phylogeny; Review; RNA, Viral - genetics; Virulence (Microbiology); Virus research; Iran; Co-infection; E2 protein; HIV; GBV-C; Genotype; HCV; HPgV-1
• ISSN: 1743-422X; 1743-422X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01769-3

Human pegivirus 1 (HPgV-1) is a Positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ ssRNA) virus, discovered in 1995 as a Flaviviridae member, and the closest human virus linked to HCV. In comparison to HCV, HPgV-1 seems to be lymphotropic and connected to the viral group that infects T and B lymphocytes. HPgV-1 infection is not persuasively correlated to any known human disease; nevertheless, multiple studies have reported a connection between chronic HPgV-1 infection and improved survival in HPgV-1/HIV co-infected patients with a delayed and favorable impact on HIV infection development. While the process has not been thoroughly clarified, different mechanisms for these observations have been proposed. HPgV-1 is categorized into seven genotypes and various subtypes. Infection with HPgV-1 is relatively common globally. It can be transferred parenterally, sexually, and through vertical ways, and thereby its co-infection with HIV and HCV is common. In most cases, the clearance of HPgV-1 from the body can be achieved by developing E2 antibodies after infection. In this review, we thoroughly discuss the current knowledge and recent advances in understanding distinct epidemiological, molecular, and clinical aspects of HPgV-1. Due to the unique characteristics of the HPgV-1, so advanced research on HPgV-1, particularly in light of HIV co-infection and other diseases, should be conducted to explore the essential mechanisms of HIV clearance and other viruses and thereby suggest novel strategies for viral therapy in the future.