The Pasteur Center of Cameroon announces the publication of the results of a new scientific study dedicated to the sequencing of the complete genome of human Pegivirus 2 (HPgV-2).

This research marks an important advance for the understanding of this virus in Africa, presenting the first genomic characterization of six new HPgV-2 strains identified in Cameroon.

Also known as the hepatitis G virus, HPgV-2 is a virus associated with liver infections in humans and often detected in patients infected with other viruses, notably the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Despite its growing interest for virological research, genomic data concerning this virus remain limited, particularly on the African continent.

As part of this study, researchers at the Pasteur Center of Cameroon succeeded in obtaining six nearly complete genomes of the virus, each about 9,000 base pairs in length, with genomic coverage over 90%.
These results represent an essential step in better understanding the genetic structure of HPgV-2 and documenting its presence in patients co-infected with the hepatitis C virus.

Phylogenetic analysis carried out from the obtained sequences shows that these Cameroonian strains belong to the HPgV-2 genotype. They also appear closely related to strains described in other regions of the world, suggesting strong genetic conservation of the virus on an international scale.

This study represents one of the first complete genomic descriptions of HPgV-2 in Africa. It highlights the circulation of this virus among patients co-infected with HCV in Cameroon and provides new insights into the genetic diversity of HPgV-2 and the dynamics of viral co-infection.

The results also open up prospects for improving virological diagnostic tools in the laboratory and strengthen the contribution of the Pasteur Center of Cameroon to scientific research and the surveillance of viral diseases.

Read the full scientific article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41817433/