Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Human pegivirus (HPgV) is best known for persistent, presumably non-pathogenic, infection and a propensity to co-infect with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis C virus. However, unique attributes, such as the increased risk of malignancy or immune modulation, have been recently recognized for HPgV. We have identified a unique case of a woman with high levels HPgV infection in two pregnancies, which occurred 4 years apart and without evidence of human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis C virus infection. The second pregnancy was complicated by congenital heart disease. A high level of HPgV infection was detected in the maternal blood from different trimesters by RT-PCR and identified as HPgV type 1 genotype 2 in both pregnancies. In the second pregnancy, the decidua and intervillous tissue of the placenta were positive for HPgV by PCR but not the chorion or cord blood (from both pregnancies), suggesting no vertical transmission despite high levels of viremia. The HPgV genome sequence was remarkably conserved over the 4 years. Using VirScan, sera antibodies for HPgV were detected in the first trimester of both pregnancies. We observed the same anti-HPgV antibodies against the non-structural NS5 protein in both pregnancies, suggesting a similar non-E2 protein humoral immune response over time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of persistent HPgV infection involving placental tissues with no clear indication of vertical transmission. Our results reveal a more elaborate viral-host interaction than previously reported, expand our knowledge about tropism, and opens avenues for exploring the replication sites of this virus.
Source: Microorganisms
Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, University of Iowa
Language: English
Topic: Hepatitis C virus research
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,303
Funders: American Heart Association, Washington University in St. Louis, Children's Discovery Institute, Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, National Institutes of Health, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, National Cancer Institute, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G1045139486, University of Iowa Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Hawk-IDDRC), G1372180606, G1838118559, Vasopressin and Preeclampsia: Early Mechanisms for Prevention, G2805346421, G3126412213, G370811490, G4564477411, G4688961941, G4925418384, G5431944772, G5440672023, G5566355568, G630064964, G6413866403, The University of Iowa Clinical and Translational Science Award, Preclinical models of serous endometrial cancer from diverse patient populations, G7983295930, The Role of Maternal Virome in Development of Congenital Heart Diseases, G9000146461, G9000189621, G9000312630, G9000324412, Core B: Clinical Translational Core
OpenAlex ID: W4297516018