HIV and Hepatitis G: Hepatitis G May Have A Protective Effect Against HIV

HIV and Hepatitis G : May Have a Protective Effect against HIV

Summary Studies linking the Hepatitis-G virus (HGV /GBV-C ) with protective effects against human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV ) have reported positive correlation of the two viruses . HGV and GBV-C are independent isolates of the same virus with 95 sequence homology . Subsequent studies affirmed that this virus does not cause a disease hence it was resolved to be called as GBV-C virus

Earlier studies have shown that GBV-C coinfection of HIV-positive patients did not result into slower rate of the progression of AIDS as

br well as a delay in the mortality of the HIV infected patients

Notable studies from Tillmann and Xiang have shown that GBV-C coinfection of HIV-infected individuals improved the survival rates of the infected individuals when compared with patients who do not have any history of infection from the said virus

The publication of two studies in 2004 by Williams and her colleagues and Bjtzrkman and his colleagues even heightened the question whether there is indeed a beneficial effect in the GBV-C coinfection of HIV-positive patients . In the study of Williams and colleagues , it was claimed that the coinfection resulted into a significant delay in the progression of HIV disease and better survival rates , Bjtzrkman 's camp claimed otherwise

Finally , most believe that the conflicting results is attributed with the span of the time of observation as Williams et al . reported that 12 to 18 months of baseline infection does not result into a conclusive data but 5 to 6 years of seroconversion revealed an improved survival and mortality rates among coinfected individuals

Up to date there has been no correct mechanism elucidated by which coinfection with GBV-C of HIV infected individuals result into a positive viral interaction benefiting the host through delay of the progression of the disease , AIDS

Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV ) is a HYPERLINK "http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Retrovirus " \o "Retrovirus " retrovirus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ( HYPERLINK "http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /AIDS " \o "AIDS " AIDS , a condition in which the HYPERLINK "http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Immune_system " \o "Immune system " immune system begins to fail , leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections . Sexual , blood and maternal transmission at birth or through breast milk are the three major routes by which HIV can be transmitted . The primary target of the HIV is the immune system in which it acts by infecting helper T cells specifically CD4 cells , macrophages and dendritic cells . The infection of the CD4 cells by the HIV eventually leads to death through direct killing apoptosis and killing by HYPERLINK "http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /CD8_cytotoxic_lymphocyte " \o "CD8 cytotoxic lymphocyte " CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes

Recently , a newly discovered virus is said to delay the progression of HIV among infected persons exhibiting coinfection with this particular virus . This virus is now known as the GB virus C (GBV-C . This virus was independently discovered by two laboratories , first by the Genelabs Inc . in 1995 which gave the name hepatitis G virus (HGV ) and by the Abbott Laboratories...