Les Anelloviridae sont de petits virus à ADN simple brin de découverte récente, très largement répandus chez les vertébrés. Chez l'homme, 3 genres distincts ont été caractérisés : Alphatorquevirus (TTV), Betatorquevirus (TTMV), Gammatorquevirus (TTMDV), engendrant une infection chronique mais dont le pouvoir pathogène potentiel demeure encore méconnu. Leur épidémiologie est en constante réévaluation du fait de leur extrême variabilité et diversité génétique. Au cours de cette recherche à l'interface entre virologie et paléomicrobiologie, nous avons exploré l'histoire naturelle de ces virus via 2 axes interconnectés. D'une part la diversité génétique a été analysée lors d'une étude transversale au sein de populations contemporaines (française et afghane) et de populations anciennes datant du néolithique à l'époque moderne. D'autre part, leur évolution a été étudiée à l'échelle individuelle par une étude longitudinale au sein de 2 corpus (suivis de patient transplanté et de patient hémodialysé). Dans le but de compléter les données concernant cette famille virale unique, un travail méthodologique a été mis en oeuvre afin d'apporter des améliorations et de standardiser les protocoles d'analyse existants. La comparaison de distribution des Anelloviridae parmi plusieurs populations contemporaines, nous a permis d'observer des différences significatives de profils, notamment dans la population afghane. Notre méthodologie d'analyse d'échantillons anciens a mis en évidence la présence de souches Anelloviridae, attestant ainsi leur ancestralité et révélant également l'existence de variabilités inter- et intra-individuelles, similaires à l'infection des populations modernes. / Anelloviridae are small single-stranded DNA viruses, recently discovered, and widely spread among vertebrates. In humans, three distinct genera were characterised: Alphatorquevirus (TTV), Betatorquevirus (TTMV), Gammatorquevirus (TTMDV), leading to a chronic infection whose pathogenicity remains unknown. Their epidemiology is constantly evolving due to their extreme variability and genetic diversity. In this multidisciplinary research, combining virology, bioanthropology and palaeomicrobiology, we have used genetic analysis to explore the natural history of those viruses via two linked issues. On the one hand, the genetic diversity was analysed by way of a cross-sectional study within contemporary populations (French and Afghan) and ancient populations from the Neolithic period to Modern times. On the other hand, their evolution was studied at the individual level through a longitudinal study in two corpora (follow-ups of a transplanted patient and haemodialysis patients). In order to complement data regarding this unique viral family, a methodological process was established to improve and standardize existing analysis protocols. Comparison of Anelloviridae's distributions among several healthy contemporary populations allowed us to notice significant differences of partitions, especially an almost complete absence of TTMDV in the Afghan sample. Our methodology dedicated to ancient remains displayed the presence of Anelloviridae strains, testifying their ancestral origin and highlighting inter- and intra-individual variations, similar to infections in modern populations.

Submitted by Anderson Silva (avargas@icict.fiocruz.br) on 2012-10-23T13:30:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 carlos_a_p_nascimento_ioc_bcm_0045_2011.pdf: 1006058 bytes, checksum: e670c764b773d1d5bd9fa107d877a76b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-10-23T13:30:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 carlos_a_p_nascimento_ioc_bcm_0045_2011.pdf: 1006058 bytes, checksum: e670c764b773d1d5bd9fa107d877a76b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / CNPq FAPERJ / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / O Torque teno virus (TTV) é um vírus de DNA do gênero Alphatorquevirus da família Anelloviridae. O TTV é altamente prevalente em populações de todo o mundo. Isolados foram classificados em cinco grupos filogenéticos (1-5) com grande distância genética entre eles. A presença do TTV já foi detectada nas fezes, porém, não se sabe se todos os cinco genogrupos do TTV são excretados nas fezes, e qual a distribuição do TTV entre os genogrupos. A fim de avaliar a presença, a diversidade genômica e a carga viral do TTV em fezes, 135 amostras de pacientes com gastroenterite foram analisadas. O DNA do TTV foi extraído de suspensão fecal e três diferentes métodos de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), dois qualitativos e um quantitativo, foram avaliados. Nas amostras de fezes estudadas, 123 (91,1%) foram positivas em pelo menos um dos três métodos. O DNA do TTV pertencente aos genogrupos de 1 a 5 foi detectado em 37 (27,4%), 27 (20,0%), 57 (42,2%), 29 (21,5%) e 33 (24,4%) amostras, respectivamente. Co-infecções com dois, três, quatro e cinco genogrupos do TTV foram encontradas em 23 (17,0%), 15 (11,1%), 7 (5,2%) e 7 (5,2%) amostras fecais, respectivamente. Assim, 52 (38,5%) amostras continham mais de um genogrupo de TTV. A carga viral variou de 2,6 a 6,5 log de genoma equivalentes por grama de fezes. No entanto, variações de carga viral foram observadas em função do genogrupo detectado e do número de genogrupos presentes simultaneamente. Os resultados encontrados são os primeiros a mostrar a alta prevalência e a diversidade de TTV nas fezes humanas. / Torque teno virus (TTV) is a DNA virus of the genus Alphatorquevirus of Anelloviridae family. The TTV is highly prevalent in populations from around the world. Isolates have been classified into at least five main phylogenetic groups (1-5) showing a large genetic distance between them. The presence of TTV has been detected in feces. However, are presently unknown whether all five TTV genogroups are excreted in feces and the genogroup distribution. To evaluate the presence and the genomic distribution of TTV DNA in feces, 135 samples of patients with gastroenteritis were analyzed. The DNA was extracted of fecal suspension and three different PCR methods, two qualitative and one quantitative, were used. One hundred and twenty three (91.1%) samples were positive with at least one method. The TTV DNA belonging to the genogroups 1 to 5 was detected in 37 (27.4%), 27 (20.0%), 57 (42.2%), 29 (21.5%) and 33 (24.4%) fecal samples, respectively. Coinfections with two, three, four and five TTV genogroups were found in 23 (17.0%), 15 (11.1%), 7 (5.2%) and 7 (5.2%) fecal samples, respectively. Thus, 52 (38.5%) samples contained more than one TTV genogroup. Viral loads ranged from 2.6 to 6.5 log genome equivalents per gram of feces. However, variations of viral load were noted depending on genogroup and number of coinfecting TTV genogroups. These results are the first to show high prevalence and the diversity of TTV isolates in human feces.