Détection, quantification et analyse des génomes viraux dans les infections à herpèsvirus humains 6 et 7 (HHV-6, HHV-7)

The detection, quantification and genetic analysis of viral genomes have become a common practice in clinical virology. This is exemplified by the study of human herpesviruses 6 and 7. The detection of viral DNA has led to implicate theses viruses in human diseases far beyond the evidence obtained by conventional approaches such as virus culture and serology. This is specially the case for immunocompromised subjects. The quantitation of DNA, in particular by means of real-time PCR, is now susceptible to differenciate reactivation from latency, predict the occurrence of clinical events, and monitor the efficacy of antiviral therapy. Genetic analyses have permitted the characterization of variant-specific polymorphisms and mutations responsible for resistance to antivirals. Despite some limitations that users have to be aware of, the study of viral genomes is an outstanding progress in medical virology.