Molecular and Clinical Profiles of Human Pegivirus Type 1 Infection in Individuals Living with HIV-1 in the Extreme South of Brazil

Abstract

Human pegivirus type 1 (HPgV-1) infection has been associated with a benefcial efect on the prognosis of human immunodef- ciency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-coinfected individuals. However, the mechanisms involved in this protection are not yet fully elucidated.

To date, circulating HPgV-1 genotypes in HIV-1-infected individuals have not yet been identifed in the extreme south of Brazil. Te present study aimed to determine the genotypic circulation of HPgV-1 and the infuence of HPgV-1 status and persistence time on the evolution of HIV-1 infection. A retrospective cohort of 110 coinfected individuals was analyzed. Samples were subjected to viral RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, nested PCR, and genotyping. Genotypes 1 (2.8%), 2 (47.9% of subtype 2a and 42.3% of subtype 2b), and 3 (7%) were identifed. In antiretroviral treatment-na ̈ıve subjects HPgV-1 subtype 2b was associated with lower HIV-1 viral load (VL) rates (p = 0.04) and higher CD4+ T-cell counts (p = 0.03) than was subtype 2a, and the positivity for HPgV-1 was

associated with higher CD4+ T-cell counts (p = 0.02). However, there was no signifcant diference in HIV-1 VL between HPgV- 1-positive and HPgV-1-negative subjects (p = 0.08). Tere was no signifcant association between the diferent groups in HPgV-1

persistence and median HIV-1 VL (p = 0.66) or CD4+ T-cell counts (p = 0.15). HPgV-1 subtype 2b is associated with better prognosis of HIV-1 infection. Although HPgV-1 infection is persistent, our data suggest that the time of infection does not infuence HIV-1 VL or CD4+ T-cell counts in coinfected subjects.