HIV and GB virus C-can two viruses be better than one?

GB virus C (GBV-C), an RNA virus in the Flaviviridaefamily, is a close relative of the hepatitis C virus. Althoughit has been shown that many people worldwideare infected with this virus, no clear associationbetween the virus and a known disease statehas been demonstrated. GBV-C has been shown toreplicate in human peripheral-blood mononuclearcells in vitro, and it commonly coinfects patientswith human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). GBV-Cis transmitted through predominantly parenteralroutes and has a high seroprevalence among intravenous-drugusers. Nonetheless, the sexual transmissionof GBV-C has also been demonstrated recently.Infection with or carriage of the virus can bequite prolonged in many people, but most eventuallyclear the GBV-C RNA that is detectable in peripheralblood.