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Spezia PG, Matsudaira K, Filippini F, Miyamura T, Okada K, Nagao Y, Ishida T, Sano T, Pistello M, Maggi F, Hara J. Viral load of Torquetenovirus correlates with Sano's score and levels of total bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase in Kawasaki disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18033. [PMID: 37865714 PMCID: PMC10590372 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45327-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cause of Kawasaki disease (KD) is unknown. KD is often resistant to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Sano's score, which is derived from total bilirubin (TBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and C-reactive protein (CRP), is predictive of IVIG resistance in Japan. A recent study reported that Torquetenovirus (TTV), especially TTV7, was present at a high viral load in the patients with KD. We used PCR to quantify TTV load and amplicon next generation sequencing to detect individual TTV species. We used serum samples that were collected between 2002 and 2005 from 57 Japanese KD patients before IVIG treatment. Correlations between TTV load and Sano's score, the biomarkers that constitute this score, and IVIG resistance were examined. TTV load was positively correlated with Sano's score (P = 0.0248), TBIL (P = 0.0004), and AST (P = 0.0385), but not with CRP (P = 0.6178). TTV load was marginally correlated with IVIG resistance (P = 0.1544). Presence of TTV7 was correlated with total TTV load significantly (P = 0.0231). The correlations between biomarkers for KD and TTV load suggested that TTV may play a role in the pathophysiology of KD. We hypothesize that TTV7 may be associated with a higher total viral load in KD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Kazunari Matsudaira
- Division of Southeast Asian Area Studies, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fabio Filippini
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Takako Miyamura
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keiko Okada
- Department of Haematology/Oncology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Nagao
- Department of Paediatrics, Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital, 4-5 Sugukita, Kasuga City, Fukuoka, 816-0864, Japan.
| | - Takafumi Ishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Sano
- Department of Paediatrics, Japan Health Care Organisation Osaka Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Virology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Rome, Italy
| | - Junichi Hara
- Department of Haematology/Oncology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan
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Spezia PG, Filippini F, Nagao Y, Sano T, Ishida T, Maggi F. Identification of Torquetenovirus Species in Patients with Kawasaki Disease Using a Newly Developed Species-Specific PCR Method. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8674. [PMID: 37240024 PMCID: PMC10218515 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A next-generation sequencing (NGS) study identified a very high viral load of Torquetenovirus (TTV) in KD patients. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a newly developed quantitative species-specific TTV-PCR (ssTTV-PCR) method to identify the etiology of KD. We applied ssTTV-PCR to samples collected from 11 KD patients and 22 matched control subjects who participated in our previous prospective study. We used the NGS dataset from the previous study to validate ssTTV-PCR. The TTV loads in whole blood and nasopharyngeal aspirates correlated highly (Spearman's R = 0.8931, p < 0.0001, n = 33), supporting the validity of ssTTV-PCR. The ssTTV-PCR and NGS results were largely consistent. However, inconsistencies occurred when ssTTV-PCR was more sensitive than NGS, when the PCR primer sequences mismatched the viral sequences in the participants, and when the NGS quality score was low. Interpretation of NGS requires complex procedures. ssTTV-PCR is more sensitive than NGS but may fail to detect a fast-evolving TTV species. It would be prudent to update primer sets using NGS data. With this precaution, ssTTV-PCR can be used reliably in a future large-scale etiological study for KD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabio Filippini
- Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Yoshiro Nagao
- Department of Paediatrics, Japan Community Health Care Organisation Osaka Hospital, Osaka 5530003, Japan
- Department of Paediatrics, Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital, Fukuoka 8160864, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Sano
- Department of Paediatrics, Japan Community Health Care Organisation Osaka Hospital, Osaka 5530003, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 1130033, Japan
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani”—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy
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Van Gelder RN. Molecular Diagnostics for Ocular Infectious Diseases: LXXVIII Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture. Am J Ophthalmol 2022; 235:300-312. [PMID: 34921773 PMCID: PMC8863649 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To review the use of molecular diagnostic techniques in the management of ocular infectious disease. DESIGN Retrospective review. METHODS A combination of literature review and personal recollections are used. RESULTS Although the broad term molecular diagnostics may encompass techniques to identify pathogens via protein or metabolomic signatures, this review concentrates on detection of pathogen nucleic acid as an indicator of infection. The introduction of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 1985 opened a new era in analysis of nucleic acids. This technique was soon applied to the detection of potential pathogen DNA and RNA, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites in infectious eye disease. Advances in PCR have allowed class-specific diagnostics (ie, pan-bacterial and pan-fungal), quantitation of pathogen DNA, and multiplexed testing. The Human Genome Project in the early 2000s greatly accelerated development of DNA sequencers, ushering in the era of "Next Generation Sequencing" and permitting pathogen-agnostic methods for the detection of potential infectious agents. Most recently, new technologies such as nanopore sequencing have reduced both cost and equipment requirements for whole-genome sequencing; when coupled with real-time sequence analysis methods, these methods offer the promise of true, real-time, point-of-service ocular infectious disease diagnostics. CONCLUSIONS Molecular methods for pathogen detection have greatly advanced the diagnosis of ocular infectious disease. Further methodologic advances will have a direct impact on the management of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell N Van Gelder
- From the Departments of Ophthalmology, Biological Structure, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Roger and Angie Karalis Johnson Retina Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
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Hussain T, Manzoor S, Waheed Y, Tariq H, Hanif K. Phylogenetic analysis of Torque Teno Virus genome from Pakistani isolate and incidence of co-infection among HBV/HCV infected patients. Virol J 2012; 9:320. [PMID: 23270330 PMCID: PMC3573928 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-9-320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Torque Teno Virus (TTV) was the first single stranded circular DNA virus to be discovered that infects humans. Although there have been numerous reports regarding the prevalence of TTV from other countries of South Asia, there is severe lack of information regarding its prevalence in Pakistan. Thus the present study compiles the first indigenous report to comprehensively illustrate the incidence of the virus in uninfected and hepatitis infected population from Pakistan. Another aim of the study was to present the sequence of full length TTV genome from a local isolate and compare it with the already reported genome sequences from other parts of the world. METHODS TTV DNA was screened in the serum of 116, 100 and 40 HBV infected, HCV infected and uninfected individuals respectively. Nearly full length genome of TTV was cloned from a HBV patient. The genome sequence was subjected to in-silico analysis using CLC Workbench, ClustalW, ClustalX and TreeView. Statistical analysis was carried out in SPSS v17.0. RESULTS Our results report that 89.7%, 90.0% and 92.5% of HBV, HCV patients and healthy control population were positive for TTV infection. TTV genome of 3603 bp was also cloned from a local isolate and given the identity of TPK01. The TTV genome sequence mentioned in this paper is submitted in the GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ under the accession number JN980171. Phylogenetic analysis of TPK01 revealed that the Pakistani isolate has sequence similarities with genotype 23 and 22 (Genogroup 2). CONCLUSION The results of the current study indicate that the high frequency of TTV viremia in Pakistan conforms to the reports from other areas of the world, wherever screening of TTV DNA was performed against 5'-UTR of the genome. The high sequence diversity among TTV genome sequences and the high frequency of prevalence makes it harder to study this virus in cellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabinda Hussain
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Sobia Manzoor
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Yasir Waheed
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Huma Tariq
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Khushbakht Hanif
- Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
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Davidson I, Shulman LM. Unraveling the puzzle of human anellovirus infections by comparison with avian infections with the chicken anemia virus. Virus Res 2008; 137:1-15. [PMID: 18656506 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2008.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2008] [Revised: 06/15/2008] [Accepted: 06/17/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Current clinical studies on human annelloviruses infections are directed towards finding an associated disease. In this review we have emphasized the many similarities between human anellovirus and avian circoviruses and the cell and tissue types infected by these pathogens. We have done this in order to explore whether knowledge acquired from natural and experimental avian infections could reflect and be extrapolated to the less well-characterized human annellovirus infections. The knowledge gained from the avian system may provide suggestions for decoding the enigmatic human anellovirus infections, and finding the specific disease or diseases caused by these human anellovirus infections. Each additional parallelism between chicken anemia virus (CAV) and Torque teno virus (TTV) further strengthens this premise. As we have seen information from human infections can also be used to better understand avian infections as well. Increased attention must be focused on the "hidden" or unrecognized, seemingly asymptomatic effects of circovirus and anellovirus infections. Understanding the facilitating effect of these infections on disease progression caused by other pathogens may help to explain differences in outcome of complicated poultry and human diseases. The final course of a pathogenic infection is determined by variations in the state of health of the host before, during and after contact with a pathogen, in addition to the phenotype of the pathogen and host. The health burden of circoviridae and anellovirus infections may be underestimated, due to lack of awareness of the need to search past the predominant clinical effect of identified pathogens and look for modulation of cellular-based immunity caused by co-infecting circoviruses, and by analogy, human anneloviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Davidson
- Division of Avian Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel.
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Biagini P, Gallian P, Cantaloube JF, Attoui H, de Micco P, de Lamballerie X. Distribution and genetic analysis of TTV and TTMV major phylogenetic groups in French blood donors. J Med Virol 2005; 78:298-304. [PMID: 16372292 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.20539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
TTV and TTMV (recently assigned to the floating genus Anellovirus) infect human populations (including healthy individuals) at high prevalence (>80%). They display notably high levels of genetic diversity, but very little is known regarding the distribution of Anellovirus genetic groups in human populations. We analyzed the distribution of the major genetic groups of TTV and TTMV in healthy voluntary blood donors using group-independent and group-specific PCR amplifications systems, combined with sequence determination and phylogenetic analysis. Analysis of Anellovirus groups revealed a non-random pattern of group distribution with a predominant prevalence of TTV phylogenetic groups 1, 3, and 5, and of TTMV group 1. Multiple co-infections were observed. In addition, TTMV sequences exhibiting a high genetic divergence with reference sequences were identified. This study provided the first picture of the genetic distribution of the major phylogenetic groups of members of the genus Anellovirus in a cohort of French voluntary blood donors. Obtaining such data from a reference population comprising healthy individuals was an essential step that will allow the subsequent comparative analysis of cohorts including patients with well-characterized diseases, in order to identify any possible relationship between Anellovirus infection and human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Biagini
- Unité des Virus Emergents, Etablissement Français du Sang Alpes-Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
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Saláková M, Němeček V, König J, Tachezy R. Age-specific prevalence, transmission and phylogeny of TT virus in the Czech Republic. BMC Infect Dis 2004; 4:56. [PMID: 15575965 PMCID: PMC539280 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-4-56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2004] [Accepted: 12/03/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background TT virus is prevalent worldwide, but its prevalence and genotype distribution in Central and East-Europe has not been determined. The high prevalence of TTV in multiply-transfused patients points to the importance of a parenteral mode of transmission, but since more than half of the general population is infected other possible routes of transmission must be considered. Methods In our study, we investigated the epidemiology, transmission and phylogeny of TTV in the Czech Republic. The following groups were selected: a control group of 196 blood donors, 20 patients with hemophilia, 49 intravenous drug users, 100 sex workers, 50 penitentiary prisoners, 208 healthy children aged 1 to 14 years, 54 cord blood samples, 52 patients with non-A-E hepatitis, 74 patients with hepatitis C, and 51 blood donors with increased ALT levels. Primers specific for the non-coding region were used. The genotype distribution was studied in 70 TTV-positive samples. Results The prevalence rate of TTV among the Czech population was 52.6%. We have shown that TTV is not transmitted prenatally. Children were infected after birth with two peaks: one at the age of two years and the other after the beginning of primary school. Adults have shown a further increase in the TTV prevalence with age. The highest TTV prevalence was found in the group of patients who had received multiple blood transfusions. The TTV prevalence rate in subjects at an increased risk of sexual transmission was not significantly higher than in the general population. Genotypes G2 and G1 were most prevalent among the Czech population, followed by G8 and G3. The subjects positive for markers of HBV and/or HCV infection tested significantly more often TTV DNA positive, which is suggestive of a common route of transmission of these three infections. Conclusions This study on TTV prevalence, mode of transmission and age-specific prevalence is the most extensive study performed in Central and Eastern Europe. It showed insights into the epidemiology of TTV infection, but failed to associate TTV infection with clinical manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Saláková
- Department of Experimental Virology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 128 20 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Němeček
- National Reference Laboratory for Hepatitis, National Institute of Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav König
- National Reference Laboratory for Hepatitis, National Institute of Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ruth Tachezy
- Department of Experimental Virology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 128 20 Prague 2, Czech Republic
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Pollicino T, Raffa G, Squadrito G, Costantino L, Cacciola I, Brancatelli S, Alafaci C, Florio MG, Raimondo G. TT virus has a ubiquitous diffusion in human body tissues: analyses of paired serum and tissue samples. J Viral Hepat 2003; 10:95-102. [PMID: 12614465 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00417.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The tissue tropism and possible correlation with liver disease of the TT virus (TTV) as well as its prevalence and genotype distribution remain undefined. TTV-DNA was investigated in paired sera and tissue samples from 144 patients, and sera and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from additional six subjects. Of the 144 tissue samples, 128 were liver biopsy specimens from subjects with hepatic disease while 16 were surgically obtained nonliver specimens from patients with extrahepatic disease. TTV cloning, sequencing and genotype analyses were performed on isolates from sera, tissue specimens and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two patients with hepatic and four patients with extrahepatic pathologies, as well as from sera and CSFs of two subjects. TTV was found in 100% of the examined tissues and in 60.1 and 50% of sera from patients with hepatic and extrahepatic pathologies, respectively. Moreover, TTV was detected in four of the six CSFs analysed but only in two correspondent sera. Genotyping revealed the coexistence of multiple TTV genotypes and genetic variants in each infected individual, and the analysis of TTV mRNA showed the presence of transcripts in all the six different tissues studied. These results indicate that the entire adult population in our area is more likely infected by TTV, although several subjects are not viraemic and that TTV infects many different human tissues and is able to invade the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Pollicino
- Unità di Epatologia Clinica e Biomolecolare - Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Policlinico Universitario di Messina, Messina, Italy
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9
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Cacoub P, Rosenthal E, Gerolami V, Hausfater P, Ghillani P, Sterkers Y, Thibault V, Khiri H, Piette JC, Halfon P. Transfusion-associated TT virus co-infection in patients with hepatitis C virus is associated with type II mixed cryoglobulinemia but not with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Clin Microbiol Infect 2003; 9:39-44. [PMID: 12691541 DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-0691.2003.00481.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of TT virus (TMV) infection in a series of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with or without benign (mixed cryoglobulinemia) or malignant (B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL)) lymphoproliferative disease. METHODS Sixty-six HCV patients were studied, including patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia (n=30), B-NHL (n=15), and no mixed cryoglobulinemia or B-NHL (n=21). All HCV patients had increased transaminase levels and were HCV RNA positive. Patients were considered to have mixed cryoglobulinemia if two successive determinations of their serum cryoglobulin level were above 0.05 g/L. Mixed cryoglobulinemia-negative patients never had mixed cryoglobulins in their serum on multiple determinations. Subjects without HCV infection included 79 patients with histologically proven B-NHL, and 50 healthy blood donors. Serum samples were analyzed for TTV DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction, with two couples of primers in different regions of the genome, in two independent laboratories. RESULTS In the group of HCV-positive patients, TTV DNA was found in one of 15 (6.7%) patients with B-NHL, and in nine of 51 (17.6%, P = 0.43) of those without B-NHL. Among HCV-positive patients without B-NHL, TTV DNA was more frequently found in those with type II mixed cryoglobulinemia vasculitis than in those without it (six of 16 (37.5%) versus two of 21 (9.5%), P = 0.05). In subjects without HCV infection, TTV DNA was present in 10 of 79 (12.7%) patients with B-NHL and in seven of 50 (14.0%, P = 0.82) blood donors. CONCLUSION In patients chronically infected with HCV, TTV co-infection: (1) is not associated with the presence of B-NHL; and (2) is more frequently found in patients presenting a type II mixed cryoglobulinemia vasculitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Cacoub
- Service de Médecine Interne, CHU Pitié-Salpétrière, Paris, France.
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10
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Artini M, Cariani E, Almerighi C, Fulco M, Rossini A, Pietropaolo L, Stivali G, Montalto G, Caratozzolo M, Girelli G, Grimali E, Costanzo A, Levrero M, Balsano C. Prevalence and genomic variability of transfusion transmitted virus in Italian cryptogenic chronic liver disease and healthy blood donors. Dig Liver Dis 2002; 34:570-6. [PMID: 12502213 DOI: 10.1016/s1590-8658(02)80090-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with transfusion transmitted virus, a new member of the Parvoviridae family, has been found in patients both with chronic and fulminant post-transfusion cryptogenic hepatitis. AIM To evaluate the prevalence and clinical impact of transfusion transmitted virus infection in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Studies were carried out on 256 patients and control subjects from three centres from Northern, Central and Southern Italy (92 nonA-nonC chronic hepatitis, 10 acute non fulminant cryptogenic hepatitis, 41 hepatitis C virus-related chronic hepatitis and 113 blood donors). Serum transfusion transmitted virus was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction using two overlapping sets of primers. RESULTS A total of 52 of the 92 patients (54.3%) with chronic cryptogenic liver disease and 17 of the 41 hepatitis C virus chronic hepatitis patients (41.4%) were transfusion transmitted virus-DNA positive. Transfusion transmitted virus co-infection in hepatitis C virus patients was not associated with either a higher severity of liver histology or higher alanine transaminase levels or signs of cholestasis, transfusion transmitted virus was found in 48 out of 113 (42.4%) blood donors. In the majority of samples, transfusion transmitted virus DNA was detected with only one of the two sets of primers used. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis performed on 21 randomly selected viral isolates showed the presence of both type 1 and type 2 transfusion transmitted virus and allowed identification of two isolates with high homology to genotype 6, described, so far, mostly in Japan. CONCLUSIONS Transfusion transmitted virus type 1 and 2 infection is common among blood donors and patients with liver disease in Italy. The pathogenic potential of transfusion transmitted virus type 1 and 2 in nonA-nonC hepatitis patients is unlikely but further studies are needed to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical impact of other transfusion transmitted virus subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Artini
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, A. Cesalpino Foundation, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
TT virus (TTV) was found in 1997 from a hepatitis patient without virus markers. However, the real impact of TTV on liver diseases remains uncertain to date. Due to the lack of suitable cell systems to support the growth of TTV, the biology of TTV is still obscure. This review tries to summarise the current status of TTV on aspects other than the taxonomic diversity of TTV. TTV was the first human virus with a single stranded circular DNA genome. TTV was considered to be a member of Circoviridae, but others suggested it conformed to a new family. TTV is distinct from ambisense viruses in the genus Circovirus, since the former genome is negative stranded. The genome structure of TTV is more related to chicken anaemia virus in the genus Gyrovirus, however, the sequence similarity is minimal except for a short stretch at 3816-3851 of TA278. Currently the working group is proposing the full name for TTV as TorqueTenoVirus and the TTV-like mini virus as TorqueTenoMiniVirus (TTMV) in a new genus Anellovirus (ring). TTVs are prevalent in non-human primates and human TTV can cross-infect chimpanzees. Furthermore, TTV sequences have been detected in chickens, pigs, cows and sheep. TTV can be transmitted by mother-to-child infection. However, within a year after birth, the prevalence reaches the same level for children born to both TTV-positive and TTV-negative mothers even without breast-feeding. The non-coding region surrounding a short 113 nt GC-rich stretch and occupying approximately one-third of the genome is considered to contain the putative replication origin. Three mRNAs are expressed by TTV, 3.0 and 1.2 and 1.0 kb species. A protein translated from the 3.0 kb mRNA is considered to be the major capsid protein as well as replicase. The nature of the proteins translated by the other two mRNAs are still putative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Hino
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.
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Kakkola L, Hedman K, Vanrobaeys H, Hedman L, Söderlund-Venermo M. Cloning and sequencing of TT virus genotype 6 and expression of antigenic open reading frame 2 proteins. J Gen Virol 2002; 83:979-990. [PMID: 11961251 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-83-5-979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The near-full-length genome of a TT virus (TTV) (HEL32), closely related to the previously uncharacterized genotype 6, was cloned and sequenced. The genomic organization of HEL32 was compared to 41 published near-full-length TTV sequences representing 17 genotypes. In the majority of genomes, the open reading frame (ORF) 2 region was divided into two separate ORFs, 2a and 2b. The ORF2a sequence was conserved among all genotypes, while the ORF2b region showed more variability. The two corresponding putative proteins of HEL32 were expressed in prokaryotes and their antigenic potential was studied. IgM and IgG antibodies to the respective ORF2-encoded proteins, fp2a and fp2b, and the presence of TTV DNA were studied in the sera of 89 constitutionally healthy adults. By immunoblot using the small TTV proteins as antigens, strong IgM and IgG reactivities were found in 9 and 10% of subjects, respectively. Follow-up studies for 12-15 years of three subjects showed either a persistent coexistence of IgM and TTV DNA or the appearance of viral DNA regardless of pre-existing antibodies. The low prevalence of IgG could be due to the weak immunogenicity of these probably non-structural proteins or to a genotype-specific antibody response. By nested PCR of the conserved ORF2a region, the prevalence of TTV DNA was 85%. TTV genotype 6 sequences were found by specific PCR in 3 of 35 (8.6%) subjects. The low prevalence of TTV IgG compared to the high TTV DNA prevalence, the coexistence of antibodies and viral DNA and the appearance of TTV DNA regardless of pre-existing antibodies suggest that the B-cell immunity against these minor TTV proteins would not be cross protective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kakkola
- Department of Virology, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Central Hospital, POB 21, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland1
| | - Klaus Hedman
- Department of Virology, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Central Hospital, POB 21, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland1
| | - Heidi Vanrobaeys
- Department of Virology, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Central Hospital, POB 21, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland1
| | - Lea Hedman
- Department of Virology, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Central Hospital, POB 21, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland1
| | - Maria Söderlund-Venermo
- Department of Virology, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Central Hospital, POB 21, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland1
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Di SR, Ferraro D, Bonura C, Lo PG, Lacono O, Di Marco V, Craxì A. Are hepatitis G virus and TT virus involved in cryptogenic chronic liver disease? Dig Liver Dis 2002; 34:53-8. [PMID: 11926574 DOI: 10.1016/s1590-8658(02)80060-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis G virus can cause chronic infection in man but the role of this agent in chronic liver disease is poorly understood. Little is known about the relation of another newly discovered agent, the TT virus, with chronic liver disease. AIM To investigate the rate of infection with hepatitis G virus and TT virus in patients with cryptogenic chronic liver disease. PATIENTS A total of 23 subjects with chronically raised alanine transaminase and a liver biopsy in whom all known causes of liver disease had been excluded, and 40 subjects with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease. METHODS Evaluation of anti-hepatitis G virus by enzyme immunoassay. Hepatitis G virus-RNA by polymerase chain reaction with primers from the 5' NC and NS5a regions. TT virus-DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction with primers from the ORF1 region. Results. Hepatitis G virus-RNA was detected in 4 out of 23 patients with cryptogenic chronic hepatitis and in 6 out of 40 with hepatitis C virus chronic hepatitis (17.4% vs 15% p=ns). At least one marker of hepatitis G virus infection (hepatitis G virus-RNA and/or anti-hepatitis G virus, mostly mutually exclusive) was present in 6 out of 23 patients with cryptogenic hepatitis and 16 out of 40 with hepatitis C virus liver disease (26. 1% vs 40% p=ns). T virus-DNA was present in serum in 3 subjects, 1 with cryptogenic and 2 with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease. Demographic and clinical features, including stage and grade of liver histology, were comparable between hepatitis G virus-infected and uninfected subjects. Severe liver damage [chronic hepatitis with fibrosis or cirrhosis) were significantly more frequent in subjects with hepatitis C virus liver disease. CONCLUSIONS In Southern Italy, hepatitis G virus infection is widespread among patients with chronic hepatitis, independently of parenteral risk factors. Its frequency in subjects with cryptogenic liver disease parallels that observed in hepatitis C virus chronic liver disease, thus ruling out an aetiologic role of hepatitis G virus. TT virus infection is uncommon in patients with cryptogenic or hepatitis C virus-related liver disease who do not have a history of parenteral exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano R Di
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Department of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Palermo, Italy
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