Résumé : We first summarize the derivation of viscoelastic (rate-type) fluids with stress diffusion that generates the models that are compatible with the second law of thermodynamics and where no approximation/reduction takes place. The approach is based on the concept of natural configuration that splits the total response between the current and initial configuration into the purely elastic and dissipative part. Then we restrict ourselves to the class of fluids where elastic response is purely spherical. For such class of fluids we then provide a mathematical theory that, in particular, includes the long-time and large-data existence of weak solution for suitable initial and boundary value problems. This is a joint work with Miroslav Bulicek, Vit Prusa and Endre Suli.