GB Virus type C and its relationship with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Despite of the relative success of Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART), HIV/AIDS pandemic still remains as one of the major threats to world health. Due to the limitations of the current treatments and the lack of success in the development of a preventive vaccine, the discovery of novel mechanisms involved in HIV replication has become of paramount importance. GB Virus type C or Hepatitis G Virus is a recently described microorganism belonging to the Flaviviridae family and infecting both T and B lymphocytes. Up to now, infection with this virus has not been associated with any known pathology. Studies conducted in diverse laboratories have suggested a relationship between GBV-C infection and progression to AIDS in HIV seropositive individuals. Although these findings have not been consistently reproduced in all laboratories, broader analysis suggests the existence of a complex relationship depending on the stage of the disease. In vitro inhibition experiments have confirmed that one or several GBV-C proteins do interfere with HIV replication. These findings support the hypothesis that GBV-C can be indeed the cause of a slower progression to AIDS in co-infected individuals. The study of the underlying mechanisms could open new avenues in the therapy or prevention of AIDS.