Photo by Daniel Gay
Researchers have discovered a bloodborne virus, known as human pegivirus 2 (HPgV-2), in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The team identified 8 complete strains of HPgV-2 and noted that the virus was only found in patients who tested positive for HCV RNA. However, it’s not clear if HPgV-2 causes hepatitis.
Charles Chiu, MD, PhD, of the University of California San Francisco, and his colleagues described their discovery of HPgV-2 in PLOS Pathogens.
The team identified the virus by sequencing plasma from an HCV-infected patient with multiple bloodborne exposures who died from sepsis of unknown etiology.
They said HPgV-2 is “highly divergent,” sharing less than 32% amino acid identity with its nearest relatives, rodent and bat pegiviruses.
After their initial discovery, the researchers screened an additional 2440 plasma samples and found 11 HPgV-2 RNA-positive samples.
All 12 HPgV-2 RNA-positive cases were found in patients who tested positive for HCV RNA, including 2 patients who were also infected with HIV.
The researchers performed longitudinal sampling in 2 patients and found that active HPgV-2 infection can persist in blood for at least 7 weeks, despite the presence of virus-specific antibodies.
The team also identified 1 patient with HPgV-2 and HCV RNA who was seronegative for both viruses. They said this suggests a high likelihood of simultaneous acquisition of HCV and HPgV-2 infection from an acute co-transmission event.
“Based on our findings, our team used the genetic makeup of the virus to develop both a molecular test for detecting it in the bloodstream and an antibody test for determining an immune response to the virus,” said John Hackett Jr, PhD, of Abbott Laboratories, Inc. in Abbott Park, Illinois.
“Our next step is to explore whether this new virus can cause disease, and if so, work with blood banks to continue to help safeguard the world’s blood supply against these types of new viruses. Research such as this is ultimately focused on unlocking new technologies that hold the potential for significant improvements to the practice of healthcare.”
