Discovery and significance of new human T-lymphotropic viruses: HTLV-3 and HTLV-4

Abstract

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and type 2 (HTLV-2) were discovered approximately 30 years ago and they are associated with various lymphoproliferative and neurological diseases. The estimated number of infected people is 10–20 million worldwide. In 2005, two new HTLV-1/HTLV-2-related viruses were detected, HTLV-3 and HTLV-4, from the same geographical area of Africa. In the last 4 years, their complete genomic sequences were determined and some of their characteristic features were studied in detail. These newly discovered retroviruses alongside their human (HTLV-1 and -2) and animal relatives (simian T-lymphotropic virus type 1–3) are reviewed. The potential risks associated with these viruses and the potential antiretroviral therapies are also discussed.

Keywords::

• adult T-cell leukemia
• antiretroviral therapy
• Deltaretrovirus
• HTLV-1-associated myelopathy
• human T-lymphotropic virus
• tropical spastic paraparesis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Hungarian Science and Research Fund (OTKA K68288). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.