Comparative evaluation of molecular methods for the quantitative measure of torquetenovirus (TTV) viremia, the new surrogate marker of immune competence

Background Torquetenovirus (TTV) viremia is emerging as a promising tool to assess functional immune competence, to predict posttransplant immune-related complications, and eventually to customize immunosuppression. Methods In this study, 327 blood samples were tested using two real-time PCR (rtPCR) assays both targeted to the untranslated region of the TTV genome. The first assay was an in-house rtPCR developed by our group, the second one was the recently marketed TTV R-GENE assay. Results In the validation study, the TTV R-GENE showed good performances in precision and reproducibility, and sensitivity as low as 12 TTV DNA copies/mL, like previously reported for the in-house rtPCR. The Bl…

Assessment of prevalence and load of torquetenovirus viraemia in a large cohort of healthy blood donors.

OBJECTIVES: Torquetenovirus (TTV) is an emerging marker of functional immune competence with the potential to predict transplant-related adverse events. A large-scale epidemiological study was performed to understand how basal values vary in healthy individuals according to age and gender.; METHODS: We tested plasma from 1017 healthy blood donors aged 18-69years. The presence and load of TTV were determined by a real-time PCR assay. A sub-cohort of 384 donors was tested for anti-cytomegalovirus IgG antibodies, and 100 participants were also tested for TTV viraemia on a paired whole blood sample.; RESULTS: The overall prevalence of TTV was 65% (657/1017) with a mean (±SD) growth of 5±4% ever…

Plasma Torquetenovirus (TTV) DNA load as a surrogate marker of reconstitution of CMV-specific immunity in the allogeneic stem cell transplantation setting

The kinetics of torque teno virus plasma DNA load shortly after engraftment predicts the risk of high-level CMV DNAemia in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Monitoring Torque teno virus (TTV) DNA load helps to estimate the risk of opportunistic infections in solid organ transplant recipients. We investigated whether the early kinetic pattern of plasma TTV DNA load after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) associates with subsequent CMV and EBV DNAemia. This study included 71 allo-HSCT patients. We found that the area under the curve (AUC) for log10 TTV DNA loads quantified by days 20 and 30 after transplantation (TTV DNA load AUC20-30), was significantly lower (P=0.036) in patients who subsequently developed CMV DNAemia requiring preemptive antiviral therapy (n=17) than in those who did not (n=8) or had no CMV DNAemia…

Dynamics of Torque Teno virus plasma DNAemia in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients

Abstract Background Torque Teno virus (TTV) plasma DNA load directly correlate with the level of immunosuppresion in different clinical settings. It is uncertain whether this may be the case in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (allo-HSCT). Objectives We characterized the dynamics of TTV DNAemia in patients undergoing T-cell replete allo-SCT. Study design Retrospective single-center observational study including 72 allo-HSCT patients. Plasma TTV DNA loads were quantified before initiating the conditioning regimen and at different time-points after transplant by real-time PCR. White blood cells (WBC) and absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) were measured by flow cytometry.…

Early Post-Transplant Torquetenovirus Viremia Predicts Cytomegalovirus Reactivations In Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

AbstractMonitoring the human virome has been recently suggested as a promising and novel area of research for identifying new biomarkers which would help physicians in the management of transplant patients. Imbalance of the immune system in transplant recipients has a significant impact on replication of Torquetenovirus (TTV), the most representative and abundant virus of human virome. TTV kinetic was studied by real-time PCR in 280 liver or kidney transplant recipients who underwent different drug regimens to maintain immunosuppression. During one-year post-transplant follow-up, TTV viremia fluctuated irrespective of transplanted organ type but consistent with the immunosuppression regimen…

Kinetics of torque teno virus DNA load in saliva and plasma following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Plasma torque teno virus (TTV) DNA load directly correlates with the degree of T-cell immune reconstitution early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Here, the kinetics of oral TTV DNA shedding was examined to assess whether quantitation of TTV DNA load in saliva may either replace or complement that in plasma for predicting lymphocyte (ALC) reconstitution after engraftment. This prospective observational study enrolled 38 nonconsecutive allo-HSCT recipients. Saliva and plasma specimens were collected at baseline (pretransplant) and at around days +30, +50, and +90 after allo-HSCT. TTV DNA was quantitated in both specimen types by real-time PCR. ALCs were m…

A conceptually new treatment approach for relapsed glioblastoma: Coordinated undermining of survival paths with nine repurposed drugs (CUSP9) by the International Initiative for Accelerated Improvement of Glioblastoma Care

Kast, Richard E. et al.

COVID-19 infodemics: the role of mainstream and social media