Synonyms
Definition
The human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), also known as human T-cell leukemia virus, was first identified in the early 1980s and is associated with adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), a neurologic condition. Two major related but distinct types of HTLV exist, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2. HTLV -3 and HTLV- 4 isolates have also been found in a few cases in Central Africa. They are not known to be associated with any specific illness. HTLV-1 is somewhat more common worldwide and is the only type associated with ATL. Both HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 have been linked to HAM/TSP (T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma 1 (TCL1)).
Characteristics
Retroviruses are 100 nm, lipid-enveloped RNA viruses. HTLV is a Deltaretrovirus with a 9 kb genome. The genome consists of two identical RNA molecules located within the virus capsid. The viral genes include the gag (core region), pol (polymerase), env(the envelope), and...
References
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Levy, J.A., Murphy, E.L. (2015). Human T-Lymphotropic Virus. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_2859-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_2859-2
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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