From Virome to Biomarker: Insights into the Role of Torque Teno Virus in Health and Ecosystems

Abstract

In virology, the term ‘virome’ refers to commensal viruses that typically replicate and persist within healthy individuals, without causing harmful effects to the host; this concept is familiar to microbiologists. Torque Teno Virus (TTV) is one of common commensal viruses which is very ubiquitous in the environment and infects both humans and animals. Multiple modes of transmission of TTV enhance the spreading of these viruses within ecosystems and infect new hosts. Recently, TTV has emerged as a promising biomarker for medical and environmental applications. This review article examines the widespread presence of the TTV and discusses its potential as a biomarker for exciting future uses. Also, explore the extensive global distribution of TTV, highlighting the intriguing variations in its frequency observed across diverse populations. By inspecting the factors contributing to these disparities, including geographical location, and host demographics, this review sheds light on the enigmatic nature of TTV’s prevalence. 
Keywords    :Torque Teno Virus, Virome, Biomarker
Citation: Salman MH, Al-Shuwaikh AM. From virome to biomarker: Insights into the role of Torque Teno virus in health and ecosystems. Iraqi JMS. 2025; 23(2): 190-199. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.23.2.1