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

Abstract

TTV and other anelloviruses: The astonishingly wide spread of a viral infection Pietro Giorgio Spezia a, Daniele Focosi b, Andreina Baj c, Federica Novazzi c, Francesca Drago Ferrante c, Fabrizio Carletti d, Claudia Minosse d, Giulia Matusali d, Fabrizio Maggi d,* a Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy b North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy c Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy d Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute of Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy A R T I C L E I N F O Handling Editor: Prof A Angelo Azzi Keywords: TTV Anellovirus TTMV TTMDV Virome Immune system A B S T R A C T 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.