%0 Journal Article %A Stapleton, Jack T. %A Foung, Steven %A Muerhoff, A. Scott %A Bukh, Jens %A Simmonds, Peter %T The GB viruses: a review and proposed classification of GBV-A, GBV-C (HGV), and GBV-D in genus Pegivirus within the family Flaviviridae %D 2011 %J Journal of General Virology, %V 92 %N 2 %P 233-246 %@ 1465-2099 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.027490-0 %I Microbiology Society, %X In 1967, it was reported that experimental inoculation of serum from a surgeon (G.B.) with acute hepatitis into tamarins resulted in hepatitis. In 1995, two new members of the family Flaviviridae, named GBV-A and GBV-B, were identified in tamarins that developed hepatitis following inoculation with the 11th GB passage. Neither virus infects humans, and a number of GBV-A variants were identified in wild New World monkeys that were captured. Subsequently, a related human virus was identified [named GBV-C or hepatitis G virus (HGV)], and recently a more distantly related virus (named GBV-D) was discovered in bats. Only GBV-B, a second species within the genus Hepacivirus (type species hepatitis C virus), has been shown to cause hepatitis; it causes acute hepatitis in experimentally infected tamarins. The other GB viruses have however not been assigned to a genus within the family Flaviviridae. Based on phylogenetic relationships, genome organization and pathogenic features of the GB viruses, we propose to classify GBV-A-like viruses, GBV-C and GBV-D as members of a fourth genus in the family Flaviviridae, named Pegivirus (pe, persistent; g, GB or G). We also propose renaming ‘GB’ viruses within the tentative genus Pegivirus to reflect their host origin. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.027490-0