The GB Viruses: An Update of Their Biology, Molecular Virology and Significance

P Karayiannis, St George's University of London Medical School at the University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus

Published online: April 2013

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0023614

In the quest to identify further viruses associated with hepatitis, three new viruses were cloned and assigned to the Flaviviridae family in the mid-1990s. These were named the GB virus A (GBV-A), GBV-B and GBV-C/hepatitis G virus (HGV). A more recent member is GBV-D. Of these, GBV-B, which is not a human pathogen, is associated with hepatitis in tamarins (Saguinus sp). GBV-A, -C/HGV and -D, in turn, infect primates, humans and frugivorous bats. These three viruses, unlike GBV-B, are characterised by the lack of an identifiable core protein and do not appear to be associated with any signs and symptoms of disease. Moreover, the liver does not appear to be the primary site of replication for GBV-A and GBV-C/HGV. Instead, the lymphoid system seems to be their primary target. The current review deals with what is known of the natural history, virology and molecular biology of these viruses.

Key Concepts:

  • GBV-A, GBV-B, GBV-C/HGV and GBV-D are members of the Flaviviridae family.
  • GBV-B causes hepatitis only in tamarins (Saguinus sp).
  • GBV-A, -C/HGV and -D are not associated with hepatitis.
  • GBV-A and -C/HGV appear to replicate primarily in lymphocytes.
  • GBV-A, -C/HGV and -D do not have an identifiable core-encoding region in their genome.
  • GBV-A and -C/HGV cause persistent infection.
  • Loss of GBV-C/HGV viraemia is associated with the development of anti-E2 antibodies.

Keywords: GB virus; GB inoculum; Flaviviridae; molecular biology; tamarins; experimental animals; RNA genome

Figure 1. Genomic organisation of the GB viruses in comparison with HCV, showing the 5′ and 3′ NCRs flanking the polyprotein-encoding ORF. The structural and NS proteins are labelled accordingly, whereas the cleavage sites are indicated with arrows; host signalase cleavages are shown in green and orange arrows, and those by virally encoded enzymes in blue (NS2/NS3) and brown (NS3/NS4A). Undefined or unspecified region/proteins are denoted with a question mark.
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Related Sub-Topics:

Virus Diseases | Viruses Infecting Humans | Viruses Infecting Animals | Virus Taxonomy
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Article Title: The GB Viruses: An Update of Their Biology, Molecular Virology and Significance
 
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Karayiannis, P(Apr 2013) The GB Viruses: An Update of Their Biology, Molecular Virology and Significance. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0023614]