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Human T-Lymphotropic Virus

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Synonyms

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)

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...

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References

  • Beilke M, Shuh M (2005) The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1): new insights into the clinical aspects and molecular pathogenesis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM). Microsc Res Tech 68:176–196

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Jay A. Levy & Edward L. Murphy

Authors
  1. Jay A. Levy
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  2. Edward L. Murphy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jay A. Levy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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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

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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