Genome-wide study across 1.1 million participants maps host genetic control of anellovirus persistence

Anelloviruses are the most abundant eukaryotic viruses known to infect humans, present in virtually all adults, yet the host genetic factors governing their abundance and persistence have remained poorly understood. A preprint posted to bioRxiv reports results from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of anellovirus DNA levels quantified in more than 1.1 million participants drawn from three genetic biobanks. To support this analysis, the authors constructed a viral pangenome from 2,023 anellovirus strains.

The study identifies 121 genomic loci associated with variation in viral persistence. The predominant biological signal implicates immune regulation via NF-κB signalling, suggesting that host control of anellovirus is primarily immunological rather than driven by direct antiviral restriction. The authors also report associations between anellovirus detection and a range of human health conditions, though the direction and magnitude of these associations are not fully described in the publicly available lede.

Anelloviruses are of growing interest as potential biomarkers of immune competence — their titres are known to fluctuate with immunosuppression — and understanding the genetic architecture of host control could inform both basic immunology and applied contexts such as transplantation medicine. This work has not yet undergone peer review and should be treated accordingly.