Recent Advances in HTLV Research 2015

<p>The human T-cell leukemia virus types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) were both discovered over three decades ago and infect millions people worldwide. HTLV-1 is associated with the adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in about 2% of individuals infected and another 2 to 3% of individuals develop a neurologic disorder called HTLV-associated myelopathy (HAM). HTLV-2 causes HAM in approximately 1 to 2% of infected individuals but does not cause ATLL. HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 have served as excellent models for the study of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of virus-associated cancers as well as autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Recently two new members—HTLV-3 and HTLV-4—have been discovered in bushmeat hunters from central Africa which emphasizes the urgent need for continual surveillance for new human retroviruses and their capacity to cause disease.</p><p>Important public health issues remain open issues to be addressed in spite of the basic epidemiology of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 being reasonably well defined. Clinical research is needed in developing potential HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 vaccines as well as development of treatment options for ATLL and HAM. This ‘Recent Advances Issue’ contains both reviews and updates on research that encompasses these areas.</p>