Methods of utilizing the TT virus

A method for detecting the presence of TTV target nucleotides which may be present in a test sample comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a test sample suspected of containing a target TTV nucleotide sequence with a TTV primer pair consisting of:
• 1) SEQ ID NO:60 and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69 and SEQ ID NO:71, to form a reaction mixture which generates a product;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with a TTV primer pair consisting of:
• 1) SEQ ID NO:62 and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69 and SEQ ID NO:71, wherein the nucleotide sequence of said selected primer hybridizes with said product of said reaction mixture of (a);
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of the TTV target nucleotide in said test sample.

A method for detecting the presence of TTV target nucleotides which may be present in a test sample comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a test sample suspected of containing a target TTV nucleotide sequence with a TTV primer pair consisting of:
• 1) SEQ ID NO:64 and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69 and SEQ ID NO:71, to form a reaction mixture which generates a product;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with a TTV primer pair consisting of:
• 1) SEQ ID NO:66 and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69 and SEQ ID NO:71, wherein the nucleotide sequence of said selected primer hybridizes with said product of said reaction mixture;
• (c) detecting the presence of the TTV target nucleotide in said test sample.

A method for detecting the presence of TTV target nucleotides which may be present in a test sample comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a test sample suspected of containing a target TTV nucleotide sequence with a TTV primer pair consisting of:
• 1) SEQ ID NO:68 and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO;67, SEQ ID NO:69 and SEQ ID NO:71, to form a reaction mixture which generates a product;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with a TTV primer pair consisting of:
• 1) SEQ ID NO:70 and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69 and SEQ ID NO:71, wherein the nucleotide sequence of said selected primer hybridizes with said product of said reaction mixture;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of said target TTV nucleotide in said test sample.

A test kit for detecting target TTV nucleotides in a test sample, comprising:

• (a) a container containing a primer pair specific for a TTV target nucleotide, wherein said primer pair consists of:
• 1) SEQ ID NO:68 and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69 and SEQ ID NO:71;
• (b) a container containing a primer pair specific for TTV, wherein said primer pair consists of:
• 1) SEQ ID NO:70 and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69 and SEQ ID NO:71.

A method of detecting transmission of TTV from one individual to another comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining a biological sample from an individual having TTV;
• (b) isolating a TTV DNA sequence from said biological sample;
• (c) obtaining a biological sample from a second individual having TTV;
• (d) isolating a TTV DNA sequence from said biological sample of said second individual;
• (e) comparing said TTV DNA sequence of said first individual with said TTV DNA sequence of said second individual, identity between said DNA sequence of said first individual and said DNA sequence of said second individual indicating transmission of TTV from one individual to the other.

A method of determining TTV-infection in a tissue or organ prior to transplantation or xenotransplantation of said tissue or organ comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a biological sample suspecting of containing a TTV target nucleotide sequence, from a potential donor human or animal, with a TTV primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:60 and SEQ ID NO:61 to form a first reaction mixture;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with a TTV primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:62 and SEQ ID NO:63 in order to form a second reaction mixture;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of the TTV target nucleotide in said test sample, presence of said nucleotide indicating TTV-infection in said biological sample and in said tissue or organ.

A method of determining TTV-infection in a tissue or organ prior to transplantation or xenotransplantation of said tissue or organ comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a biological sample suspecting of containing a TTV target nucleotide sequence, from a potential donor human or animal, with a TTV primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:64 and SEQ ID NO:65, to form a first reaction mixture;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with a TTV primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:66 and SEQ ID NO:67;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of the TTV target nucleotide in said test sample, presence of said nucleotide indicating TTV-infection in said biological sample and in said tissue or organ.

A method of determining TTV-infection in a tissue or organ prior to transplantation or xenotransplantation of said tissue or organ comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a biological sample suspecting of containing a TTV target nucleotide sequence, from a potential donor human or animal, with a TTV primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:68 and SEQ ID NO:69, to form a first reaction mixture;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with a TTV primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:70 and SEQ ID NO:71;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of the TTV target nucleotide in said test sample, presence of said nucleotide indicating TTV-infection in said biological sample and in said tissue or organ.

A method of detecting the presence of target TTV nucleotides in a test sample, comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a test sample suspecting of containing a target TTV nucleotide with a primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:60 and SEQ ID NO:61, to form a reaction mixture;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with at least one TTV probe selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:62 and SEQ ID NO:63;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of said target TTV nucleotide in said test sample.

A method of detecting the presence of target TTV nucleotides in a test sample, comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a test sample suspecting of containing a target TTV nucleotide with a primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:64 and SEQ ID NO:65 to form a reaction mixture;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with at least one TTV probe selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:66 and SEQ ID NO:67;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of said target TTV nucleotide in said test sample.

A method of detecting the presence of target TTV nucleotides in a test sample, comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a test sample suspecting of containing a target TTV nucleotide with a primer pair represented by SEQ ID NO:68 and SEQ ID NO:69 to form a reaction mixture;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with at least one TTV probe selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:70 and SEQ ID NO:71;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of said target TTV nucleotide in said test sample.

A method of detecting TTV target nucleotides which may be present in a test sample comprising:

• (a) contacting said test sample suspected of containing a target TTV nucleotide sequence with a TTV primer pair consisting of 1) a primer selected from the group consisting of:
• SEQ ID NO:60, SEQ ID NO:62, SEQ ID NO:64, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:68, and SEQ ID NO:70, and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting:
• SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69, and SEQ ID NO:71, to form a reaction mixture which generates a product;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with a TTV primer pair consisting of:
• 1) a primer selected from the group consisting of:
• SEQ ID NO:60, SEQ ID NO:62, SEQ ID NO:64, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:68, and SEQ ID NO:70, wherein the nucleotide sequence of said selected primer hybridizes with said product of said reaction mixture and 2) a primer selected from the group consisting:
• SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69, and SEQ ID NO:71, wherein the nucleotide sequence of said selected primer hybridizes with said product of said reaction mixture, and (c) detecting the presence of the TTV target nucleotide in said test sample.