GB Virus C is a flaviviridae. Viruses in the flavivirus family are all single-stranded RNA viruses. Production of a complementary RNA strand is not necessary for viruses in this family to produce protein. The genome of these viruses are on average 11,000 nucleotides long - they encode around 10 genes. The capsid of viruses in this family are icosahedral shaped and around the viral capsid a spherical shaped envelope is present.
Can GB Virus C Abate the HIV Virus???
"Because GBV-C is not associated with a disease, blood products are not screened for this virus and approximately 1 of 70 units of blood products in the United States contains GBV-C RNA"
Studies of the pathogenesis of GBV-C in HIV-infected patients yielded surprising results. Ten separate studies published or presented since 1998 found that GBV-C infection in HIV-positive people was associated with either a decrease in mortality or improved clinical outcomes.
Because both GBV-C and HIV replicate in lymphocytes, it is reasonable to speculate that viral interference between GBV-C and HIV might occur.
Data suggests that GBV-C replication induces cellular factors that might inhibit HIV.
SOURCES
"Flaviviridae." Flaviviridae. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2017. <https://web.stanford.edu/group/virus/flavi/2008/flavi.html>.
"Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle." Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle | Aidsinfonet.org | The AIDS InfoNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2017. <http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/670>.
N.p., n.d. Web. <http://jgv.microbiologyresearch.org/cgi/content/full/81/10/2461/F5>.
"Since 1990, Helping Busy Clinicians Master the Science and Art of Caring for People with HIV Disease." GB Virus-C (GBV-C) 3D Model with Cut-Away. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2017. <http://www.prn.org/index.php/provider_resources/prn_art/gb_virus_c_gbv_c_3d_model_with_cut_away>.
Stapleton, Jack T., Carolyn F. Williams, and Jinhua Xiang. "GB Virus Type C: A Beneficial Infection?" Journal of Clinical Microbiology. American Society for Microbiology, Sept. 2004. Web. 30 Jan. 2017.