Genetic analysis of full-length genomes and subgenomic sequences of TT virus-like mini virus human isolates

The phylogenetic relationship between the complete genomic sequences of ten Japanese and one french isolate of TT virus-like mini virus (TLMV) was inv estigated. Analysis of the variability of the nucleotide sequences and the detection of signature patterns for overlapping genes suggested that ORFs 1 and 2 are probably functional. However, this was not the case for a putati ve third ORF, ORF3. Throughout the viral genome, several nucleotide or amin o acid motifs that are conserved in circoviruses such as TT virus (TTV) and chicken anaemia virus were identified. Phylogenetic analysis distinguished three main groups of TLMV and allowed the identification of putative recom bination breakpoints in the untranslated region. TLMV genomes were detected by PCR in the plasma of 38/50 French blood donors tested and were also ide ntified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, faeces and saliva. A phyloge netic study of 37 TLMV strains originating from France, Japan and Brazil sh owed that groupings were not related to geographical origin.