Human T-Cell Virus

Tadahiko igakura and others. 2003. Spread of HTLV-1 between Lymphocytes by Virus-induced Polarization of the cytoskeleton. Science. Vol 299: 1713-16

Summary:

The research article discusses about the human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) and how the mechanism of cell to cell spread of the HTLV-1 is not fully understood. Leukemia refers to a group of red bone marrow cancers in which abnormal white blood cells multiply uncontrollably. HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 belong to the Retroviridae family of viruses and are ssRNA. In this study an -hypothesis was tested which was HTLV-1 is transmitted directly across the cell-to-cell junction. HTLV-1 is transmitted between individuals by breast milk semen and blood. In order for the virus to spread to lymphocytes (white blood cells) it requires cell contact since it produces very few cell-free HTLV-1 virions and only 1 in10*5 to 10*6 is infectious. After the hypothesis was tested the researchers concluded that the HTLV-1 does have the ability to spread between cells without the need to release cell-free virus particles. It is also understood that other T-cell viruses such as the HIV-1 virus may have similar mechanisms of infecting neighboring T-cells.

Evaluation:

Understanding the research article was kind of tricky, but after reading it couple of times I understood the basic physiology of the research. Knowing and understanding how a certain virus works gives us greater ability to save lives. Between 10 and 20 million are infected with HTLV-1 (human T cell leukemia virus) and the number is still growing. Understanding the mechanism of this virus and producing a cure for this disease opens doors to many other T-cell viruses. Two of the most deadly T-cell viruses known today are Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

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