title: A new genotype 2 subcluster identified among GBV-C strains circulating in the Lisbon metropolitan area of Portugal.
abstract: The rate of infection by the GBV-C virus was investigated in a group of 214 individuals at high risk of infection with parenterally transmitted viruses, and all living in the Lisbon metropolitan area (Portugal). RNA was extracted from plasma samples, and a fragment of the 5'-UTR was amplified by RT-PCR, disclosing a high prevalence of infection (40.7%). Most probably due to similar modes of viral transmission, the majority of GBV-C (+) individuals were found to be coinfected with HIV and/or HCV. A genomic region covering part of the E1/E2 glycoprotein coding sequence was amplified from approximately half of the GBV-C positive samples (44/87). Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences showed segregation of Portuguese GBV-C strains with genotype 1 (G1, n = 10) and genotype 2 (G2, n = 24) references. Genotype 1 was significantly associated with the African descent of those infected. Curiously, some of the strains assigned to genotype 2 were shown to form a separate cluster (designated G2*) in both neighbor-joining and Bayesian phylogenetic trees, which was confirmed by multivariate principal coordinate analysis. However, analysis of the distribution of intra- and intergenotype genetic distances support the hypothesis that rather than corresponding to a new viral genotype, G2* is a geographical subcluster within the genotype 2 radiation. J. Med. Virol. 82:452-459, 2010. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Virology Unit/Parasitology and Medical Microbiology Unit, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New Lisbon University (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piedade
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parreira
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D029407:GB virus C / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010949:Plasma / Q000821:virology; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014505:Urban Population; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins