<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Torque teno viruses (TTVs) are recently discovered DNA viruses, with heterogeneous genomes, highly prevalent in populations worldwide. The species that infect humans are Torque teno virus (TTV), Torque teno midi virus (TTMDV) and Torque teno mini virus (TTMV). High-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) is a sensitive and effective method for genotyping and mutation scanning. Up to now, HRMA has not been utilized for detection of TTVs. The aim of this study was to asses if HRMA is suitable for detecting TTVs variants. DNA was extracted from the blood and saliva of 13 healthy subjects for method optimization. Additionally, saliva samples from 100 healthy individuals were collected for estimating the TTVs’ prevalence. Viral DNA was amplified by heminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Second round amplicons were used for the HRMA. The samples were analyzed using two fluorescent dyes, SYBR® Green I and EvaGreen®. The prevalence values for TTV, TTMDV and TTMV were 71.0, 31.0 and 54.0%, respectively. The three major melting curve patterns corresponding to TTV, TTMDV and TTMV on HRMA can be easily distinguished regardless of kit used. Our results showed that HRMA is a rapid and efficient method of detecting human TTVs.</abstract>

Torque teno viruses (TTVs) are recently discovered DNA viruses, with heterogeneous genomes, highly prevalent in populations worldwide. The species that infect humans are Torque teno virus (TTV), Torque teno midi virus (TTMDV) and Torque teno mini virus (TTMV). High-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) is a sensitive and effective method for genotyping and mutation scanning. Up to now, HRMA has not been utilized for detection of TTVs. The aim of this study was to asses if HRMA is suitable for detecting TTVs variants. DNA was extracted from the blood and saliva of 13 healthy subjects for method optimization. Additionally, saliva samples from 100 healthy individuals were collected for estimating the TTVs’ prevalence. Viral DNA was amplified by heminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Second round amplicons were used for the HRMA. The samples were analyzed using two fluorescent dyes, SYBR® Green I and EvaGreen®. The prevalence values for TTV, TTMDV and TTMV were 71.0, 31.0 and 54.0%, respectively. The three major melting curve patterns corresponding to TTV, TTMDV and TTMV on HRMA can be easily distinguished regardless of kit used. Our results showed that HRMA is a rapid and efficient method of detecting human TTVs.

Rapid Detection of Human Torque Teno Viruses Using High-Resolution Melting Analysis

Department of Genetics, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

Department of Pathophysiology II, UMP “Carol Davila,” Bucharest, Romania

Balkan Journal of Medical Genetics

Torque teno viruses (TTVs) are recently discovered DNA viruses, with heterogeneous genomes, highly prevalent in populations worldwide. The species that infect...

Rapid Detection of Human Torque Teno Viruses Using High-Resolution Melting Analysis

Published Online: Oct 03, 2013

Page range: 55 - 62

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bjmg-2013-0018

This content is open access.