Interplay Between HIV and Human Pegivirus (HPgV) Load in Co-Infected Patients: Insights from Prevalence and Genotype Analysis

Overview

Journal Viruses

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2024 Jan 26

PMID 38275941

Authors

Muammer Osman Koksal

Martin Pirkl

Kutay Sarsar

Mehmet Ilktac

Gibran Horemheb-Rubio

Murat Yaman

Sevim Mese

Haluk Eraksoy

Baki Akgul

Ali Agacfidan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Human pegivirus (HPgV) is transmitted through sexual or parenteral exposure and is common among patients receiving blood products. HPgV is associated with lower levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA and better survival among HIV-infected patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of HPgV and determine its subtypes in HIV-infected individuals living in Istanbul, which has the highest rate of HIV infection in Türkiye. Total RNA extraction from plasma, cDNA synthesis, and nested PCR were performed for HPgV on plasma samples taken from 351 HIV-1-infected patients. The HPgV viral load was quantified on HPgV-positive samples. HPgV genotyping was performed by sequencing the corresponding amplicons. In the present study, the overall prevalence of HPgV RNA in HIV-infected patients was 27.3%. HPgV subtypes 1, 2a, and 2b were found, with subtype 2a being the most frequent (91.6%). Statistical analysis of HIV-1 viral load on HPgV viral load showed an opposing correlation between HIV-1 and HPgV loads. In conclusion, these data show that HPgV infection is common among HIV-positive individuals in Istanbul, Türkiye. Further comprehensive studies are needed to clarify both the cellular and molecular pathways of these two infections and to provide more information on the effect of HPgV on the course of the disease in HIV-infected individuals.

Citing Articles

Correction: Köksal et al. Interplay Between HIV and Human Pegivirus (HPgV) Load in Co-Infected Patients: Insights from Prevalence and Genotype Analysis. 2024, , 5.

Koksal M, Pirkl M, Sarsar K, Ilktac M, Horemheb-Rubio G, Yaman M Viruses. 2025; 16(12.

PMID: 39772276 PMC: 11680123. DOI: 10.3390/v16121883.

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