Determination of TTV viral load in biological material of target patient groups using a molecular genetic method
https://doi.org/10.29235/1029-8940-2026-71-2-144-156
Abstract
As a result of the conducted research, a target of the Torque Teno Virus (TTV) genome was selected, a set of primers and a TaqMan probe were developed flanking a conserved region of 111 nucleotide pairs (nucleotide positions 103–213 of the TTV reference genome TA278 GenBank: AB017610.1). This probe formed the basis of a molecular genetic method for diagnosing TTV infection, allowing for the detection and calculation of TTV viral load in human biological material. Using the developed molecular genetic method, a high frequency of TTV DNA detection was detected in plasma (71.4–90.4 %) and in the leukocyte fraction of blood (81.0–97.1 %), in both in the control group and in patients afflicted with secondary immunodeficiency, with HIV infection, and severe COVID-19 infection. The TTV viral load in the target groups was determined. A significantly lower median TTV viral load was found in the leukocyte fraction of blood in the control group – 2.58 [1.66; 3.25] log10 TTV DNA copies/105 cells, than in the group of patients with secondary immunodeficiency – 3.67 [1.88; 4.47] log10 TTV DNA copies/105 cells (p = 0.0014), patients with HIV infection – 3.84 [3.09; 4.20] log10 TTV DNA copies/105 cells (p < 0.001) and in the group of patients with severe COVID-19 infection, point 1 – 3.67 [3.09; 3.91] log10 TTV DNA copies/105 cells (p < 0.001).
About the Author
O. V. OsipkinaBelarus
Olga V. Osipkina – Head of the Research Laboratory
5, Lange Str., 246000, Gomel
References
1. Virus Taxonomy: 2024 Release. International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Available at: https://ictv.global/taxonomy (accessed 10.02.2026).
2. Varsani A., Kraberger S., Opriessnig T., Maggi F., Celer V., Okamoto H., Biagini P. Anelloviridae taxonomy update 2023. Archives of Virology, vol. 168, art. 277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-023-05903-6
3. Zerbini F. M., Siddell S. G., Mushegian A. R., Walker P. J., Lefkowitz E. J., Adriaenssens E. M., Alfenas-Zerbini P. [et al.]. Differentiating between viruses and virus species by writing their names correctly. Archives of Virology, 2022, vol. 167, no. 4, pp. 1231–1234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05323-4
4. Nishizawa T., Okamoto H., Konishib K., Yoshizawa H., Miyakawa Y., Mayumi M. A Novel DNA Virus (TTV) Associated with Elevated Transaminase Levels in Posttransfusion Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1997, vol. 241, no. 1, pp. 92–97. https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.1997.7765
5. Laubscher F., Kaiser L., Cordey S. SCANellome V2: Update of the Primate Anellovirus Reference Sequences Database. Viruses, 2024, vol. 16, no. 9, art. 1349. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091349
6. Varsani A., Opriessnig T., Celer V., Maggi F., Okamoto H., Blomström A.-L., Cadar D., Harrach B., Biagini P., Kraberger S. Taxonomic update for mammalian anelloviruses (family Anelloviridae). Archives of Virology, 2021, vol. 166, no. 10, pp. 2943–2953. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05192-x
7. Brani P., Manzoor H. Z., Spezia P. G., Vigezzi A., Ietto G., Gasperina D. D., Minosse C., Bosi A., Giaroni C., Carcano G., Maggi F., Baj A. Torque Teno Virus: Lights and Shades. Viruses, 2025, vol. 17, no. 3, art. 334. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030334
8. Chasqueira M.-J., Paixão P., Barreiros C., Tuna M., Marçal M., Paixão P. Prevalence of Torque Teno Virus in Portuguese Children Younger Than 3 Years Old: A Single-Center Study. Clinical Pediatrics, 2025, vol. 64, no. 10, pp. 1419–1424. https://doi.org/10.1177/00099228251339047
9. Ninomiya M., Takahashi M., Nishizawa T., Shimosegawa T., Okamoto H. Development of PCR Assays with Nested Primers Specific for Differential Detection of Three Human Anelloviruses and Early Acquisition of Dual or Triple Infection during Infancy. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2008, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 507–514. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.01703-07
10. Taylor L., Keeler E., Bushman F., Collman R. The enigmatic roles of Anelloviridae and Redondoviridae in humans. Current Opinion in Virology, 2022, vol. 55, art. 101248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coviro.2022.101248
11. Naganuma M., Tominaga N., Miyamura T., Soda A., Moriuchi M., Moriuchi H. TT virus prevalence, viral loads and genotypic variability in saliva from healthy Japanese children. Acta Paediatrica, 2008, vol. 97, no. 12, pp. 1686–1690. https:// doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00962.x
12. Cebriá-Mendoza M., Arbona C., Larrea L., Díaz W., Arnau V., Peña C., Bou J. V., Sanjuán R., Cuevas J. M. Deep viral blood metagenomics reveals extensive anellovirus diversity in healthy humans. Scientific Reports, 2021, vol. 11, no. 1, art. 6921. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86427-4
13. Angwong C., Pientong C., Ekalaksananan T., Burassakarn A., Tongchai P., Overgaard H. J., Aromseree S. Systematic review and meta-analysis of virome profiles and quantification of Torque teno virus load in blood of acute febrile illness patients. Scientific Reports, 2025, vol. 15, no. 1, art. 45340. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-29413-4
14. Doberer K., Kapps S., Haupenthal F., Bond G. Immune Monitoring Goes Viral – Torque Teno Virus for Immunologic Risk Stratification After Kidney Transplantation. Transplant International, 2025, vol. 38, art. 15074. https://doi.org/10.3389/ti.2025.15074
15. Gore E. J., Gard L., Niesters H. G. M., Van Leer Buter C. C. Understanding torquetenovirus (TTV) as an immune marker. Frontiers in Medicine, 2023, vol. 10, art. 1168400. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1168400
16. The consortium. TTV GUIDE. Available at: https://www.ttv-guide.eu/team (accessed 10.02.2026).
17. Caixeta R. A. V., Batista A. M., Caetano M. W., Palmieri M., Schwab G., Zerbinati R. M. [et al.]. Investigation of Oral Shedding of Torquetenovirus (TTV) in Moderate-to-Severe COVID-19 Hospitalised Patients. Viruses, 2024, vol. 16, no. 6, art. 831. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16060831
18. Feghoul L., Caillault A., Peyrony O., Salmona M., Nere M.‐L., Delaugerre C., Azoulay E., Chevret S., LeGoffet J. Respiratory torque teno virus load at emergency department visit predicts intensive care unit admission of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Journal of Medical Virology, 2023, vol. 95, no. 12, art. e29319. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.29319
19. Esser P., Quintanares G., Langhans B., Heger E., Böhm M., Jensen B.-E. O. L. E. [et al.]. Torque Teno Virus Load Is Associated With Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Stage and CD4+Cell Count in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus but Seems Unrelated to AIDS-Defining Events and Human Pegivirus Load. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2024, vol. 230, no. 2, pp. e437–e446. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiae014
20. Maggi F., Pifferi M., Fornai C., Andreoli E., Tempestini E., Vatteroni M., Presciuttini S., Marchi S., Pietrobelli A., Boner A., Pistello M., Bendinelli M. TT Virus in the Nasal Secretions of Children with Acute Respiratory Diseases: Relations to Viremia and Disease Severity. Journal of Virology, 2003, vol. 77, no. 4, pp. 2418–2425. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.77.4.24182425.2003
21. Garafutdinov R. R., Baimiev A. Kh., Maleev G. V., Alekseev Ya. I., Zubov V. V., Chemeris D. A. [et al.]. Diversity of PCR primers and principles of their design. Biomika = Biomics, 2019, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 23–70 (in Russian).
22. Subach M. F., Khrenova M. G., Zvereva M. I. Modern methods of aptamer chemical modification and principles of aptamer library selection. Moscow University Chemistry Bulletin, 2024, vol. 79, no. 2, pp. 79–85. https://doi.org/10.3103/S002713142470010X
23. Kozyreva A. A., Zlotina A. M., Golovkin A. S., Kalinina O. V., Kostareva A. A. Primer designing in Primer-BLAST. Translyatsionnaya meditsina = Translational Medicine, 2021, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 37–52 (in Russian).
24. Osipkina O. V., Voropaev E. V., Rymko A. N., Akalovich S. T., Voropaeva A. V., Mitsura V. M., Kovalev A. A. Method for quantitative determination of TTV viruses in biological material. Instructions for use № 014-0525. 30.06.2025. MedBY. Available at: http://med.by/methods/book.php?book=3515 (accessed 10.02.2026) (in Russian).
25. Osipkina O. V., Voropaev E. V., Voropaeva A. V., Valentovich L. N., Rymko A. N., Akalovich S. T., Kovalev A. A. Elaborating and Testing of a Quantification Method for Alphatorquevirus Genus Viruses DNA. Laboratornaya diagnostika. Vostochnaya Evropa = Laboratory Diagnostics. Eastern Europe, 2025, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 571–584 (in Russian).
26. Jonker J., Doorenbos C. S. E., Gore E. J., Gomes-Neto A. W., de Meijer V. E., Blokzijl H. [et al.]. Torque teno virus loads and leukocyte populations in stable outpatient solid organ transplant recipients. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2026, vol. 162, art. 108217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2025.108217
27. Hsiao K.-L., Wang L.-Y., Cheng J.-Ch., ChengY.-J., Lin Ch.-L., Liu H.-F. Detection and genetic characterization of the novel torque teno virus group 6 in Taiwanese general population. Royal Society Open Science, 2021, vol. 8, no. 11, art. 210938. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.210938
28. Mitsura V. M., Voropaev E. V., Osipkina O. V., Tereshkov D. V., Zmushko M. N., Skuratov A. G., Fomchenko N. E., Voropaeva A. E. Detection of DNA of TT and SEN viruses in patients with liver diseases and blood donors. Laboratornaya diagnostika. Vostochnaya Evropa = Laboratory Diagnostics. Eastern Europe, 2017, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 266–275 (in Russian).
29. Osipkina O. V., Voropaev E. V., Mitsura V. M., Zyat’kov A. A., Tereshkov D. V., Perevolotskaya T. V., Perevolotskii A. N. Torque Teno virus: prevalence and features of PCR diagnostic. Problemy zdorov’ya i ekologii = Health and Environmental Issues, 2018, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 85–90 (in Russian).
30. Osipkina O. V., Voropaev E. V., Mitsura V. M., Tereshkov D. V., Kovalev A. A. Comparison of different DNA detection options TTV, TTMDV, and TTMV viruses. Problemy zdorov’ya i ekologii = Health and Environmental Issues, 2022, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 102–108 (in Russian).
31. Okamoto H., Nishizawa T., Ukita M., Takahashi M., Fukuda M., Iizuka H., Miyakawa Y., Mayumi M. The Entire Nucleotide Sequence of a TT Virus Isolate from the United States (TUS01): Comparison with Reported Isolates and Phylogenetic Analysis. Virology, 1999, vol. 259, no. 2, pp. 437–448. https://doi.org/10.1006/viro.1999.9769
32. Chen J., Chen F., Zhou Q., Li W., Chen Y., Song Y., Zhang X., Xue Ch., Y., Cao Y. Development of a minor groove binder assay for real-time PCR detection of porcine Sapelovirus. Journal of Virological Methods, 2014, vol. 198, pp. 69–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2013.12.003
33. Maev I. V., Karlovich T. I., Burmistrov A. I., Chekmazov I. A., Andreev D. N., Reshetnyak V. I. Current Views of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) in Liver Diseases. Rossiiskii zhurnal gastroenterologii, gepatologii, koloproktologii = Russian Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Coloproctology, 2020, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 7–22 (in Russian).
34. Cianfruglia L., Badillo Pazmay G. V., Fortunato C., Spezia P. G., Novazzi F., Piacenza F. [et al.]. High Torque teno virus viremia predicts long-term mortality and reflects chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) in geriatric inpatients. Experimental Gerontology, 2026, vol. 213, art. 112978. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2025.112978
35. Cinti L., Spezia P. G., Roberto P., Russo G., Lai Q., Carillo C., Frasca F., Antonelli G., Maggi F. Assessment of Torquetenominivirus (TTMV) and Torquetenomidivirus (TTMDV) as Complementary Biomarkers to Torquetenovirus (TTV). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025, vol. 26, no. 3, art. 1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031022
36. Medina J. B., Vieira e Silva F. F., Caixeta R. A. V., de Oliveira Rech B., Perez-Jardón A., Padín-Iruegas M. E., PérezSayáns M., Braz-Silva P. H., Ortega K. L. Torque teno virus as a marker of immune status in immunocompromised patients: A systematic review. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2025, vol. 55, no. 8, art. e70068. https://doi.org/10.1111/eci.70068
37. Forqué L., Albert E., Giménez E., Torres I., Carbonell N., Ferreres J., Blasco M. L., Navarro D. Monitoring of Torque Teno virus DNAemia in critically ill COVID-19 patients: May it help to predict clinical outcomes? Journal of Clinical Virology, 2022, vol. 148, art. 105082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2022.105082
Review
JATS XML



























