Abstract
Objective:
A high prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA and E2 antibodies is observable in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals in Belgium, including intravenous drug users (IDUs), in whom the highest prevalence is observed. A molecular analysis of GBV-C/HGV could give indications on the origin of this infection in IDUs.
Methods:
We directly sequenced 7 GBV-C/HGV isolates from this IDU population and performed a phylogenetic analysis comparing the results to known GBV-C/HGV sequences.
Results:
All 7 isolates were GBV-C/HGV genome type 2. Three were found to be subtype 2a, and 4 belonged to the 2b subtype. No specific clustering was observed for strains obtained from IDUs in Belgium, and they were interspersed between other sequences with long branch lengths.
Conclusion:
Based on our results, it is unlikely that the IDUs were infected recently by GBV-C/HGV from a common ancestral virus.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Antibodies, Viral / blood
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Antibodies, Viral / immunology
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Antigens, Viral / immunology
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Belgium / epidemiology
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Female
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Flaviviridae / classification
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Flaviviridae / genetics*
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Genetic Variation / genetics
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Genome, Viral*
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HIV Infections / complications*
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HIV Infections / virology
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HIV-1*
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Hepatitis, Viral, Human / complications
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Hepatitis, Viral, Human / epidemiology
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Hepatitis, Viral, Human / immunology
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Hepatitis, Viral, Human / virology*
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Humans
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Male
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phylogeny
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Prevalence
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RNA, Viral / blood
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RNA, Viral / genetics
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Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
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Substance Abuse, Intravenous / virology*
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Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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Antigens, Viral
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RNA, Viral
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Viral Envelope Proteins
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glycoprotein E2, GB virus C
Associated data
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GENBANK/Y18152
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GENBANK/Y18153
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GENBANK/Y18154
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GENBANK/Y18155
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GENBANK/Y18156
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GENBANK/Y18157
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GENBANK/Y18158