TTV and other anelloviruses: The astonishingly wide spread of a viral infection

Pietro Giorgio Spezia; Daniele Focosi; Andreina Baj; Federica Novazzi; Francesca Drago Ferrante; Fabrizio Carletti; Claudia Minosse; Giulia Matusali; Fabrizio Maggi

doi:10.1016/j.amolm.2023.100006

TTV and other anelloviruses: The astonishingly wide spread of a viral infection

Asp Mol Med. 2023:1:None. doi: 10.1016/j.amolm.2023.100006.

Authors

Pietro Giorgio Spezia¹, Daniele Focosi², Andreina Baj³, Federica Novazzi³, Francesca Drago Ferrante³, Fabrizio Carletti⁴, Claudia Minosse⁴, Giulia Matusali⁴, Fabrizio Maggi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy.
² North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
³ Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
⁴ Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute of Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

The broad family of viruses known as anelloviruses (AV) infects both humans and numerous animal species. They have a tiny, covalently closed single-stranded DNA genome and the astonishing capacity to infect a very high percentage of healthy and ill people with chronic infections that could last a lifetime. AV, and particularly the prototype Torquetenovirus, have established a successful interaction with the host's immune system and the rate at which they replicate is a gauge to measure overall immune function, even though many aspects of their life cycle and pathogenesis are still poorly understood.

Keywords: Anellovirus; Immune system; TTMDV; TTMV; TTV; Virome.

Publication types

Review