GB virus C coinfections in west African Ebola patients

J Virol. 2015 Feb;89(4):2425-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02752-14. Epub 2014 Dec 3.

Abstract

In 49 patients with known Ebola virus disease outcomes during the ongoing outbreak in Sierra Leone, 13 were coinfected with the immunomodulatory pegivirus GB virus C (GBV-C). Fifty-three percent of these GBV-C(+) patients survived; in contrast, only 22% of GBV-C(-) patients survived. Both survival and GBV-C status were associated with age, with older patients having lower survival rates and intermediate-age patients (21 to 45 years) having the highest rate of GBV-C infection. Understanding the separate and combined effects of GBV-C and age on Ebola virus survival may lead to new treatment and prevention strategies, perhaps through age-related pathways of immune activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coinfection / epidemiology*
  • Coinfection / virology
  • Female
  • Flaviviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Flaviviridae Infections / virology
  • GB virus C / genetics
  • GB virus C / isolation & purification*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / complications*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / mortality
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / virology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sierra Leone / epidemiology
  • Survival Analysis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KM670096
  • GENBANK/KM670097
  • GENBANK/KM670098
  • GENBANK/KM670099
  • GENBANK/KM670100
  • GENBANK/KM670101
  • GENBANK/KM670102
  • GENBANK/KM670103
  • GENBANK/KM670104
  • GENBANK/KM670105
  • GENBANK/KM670106
  • GENBANK/KM670107
  • GENBANK/KM670108
  • GENBANK/KM670109
  • GENBANK/KM670110