L23: HTLV-1 Flip Class Flashcards
(12 cards)
What was the first described retrovirus in humans?
Human T-cell lymphotropic/leukaemia virus
Why wont HTLV-1 infection go away?
Genome undergoes reverse transcriptase after entry and integrates into the host DNA and forms a provirus
What immune cells does HTLV target
Primarily targets CD4 and CD8 T cells
What immune cells does HTLV target
Primarily targets CD4 and CD8 T cells
Are there other cells that HTLV can infect?
B cells, monocytes, D cells, myeloid cells and endothelial cells
How is HTLV-1 transmitted
Transmitted by blood, sexual contact or breast milk. infects by cell to cell contact
What are the 2 main diseases associated with HTLV
1) Adult T cell leukaemia
2) HAM - HTLV associated myelopathy - infected lymphocytes crowd into spinal column and compress the spinal cord
What are zombie T cells?
HTLV2 causes over active inflammation from Zombie T cells which have viral products in them that rid them of their ability to perform immune function
Does HTLV kill T cells?
No, it infects them and drives proliferation of these cells
Who has the highest rates of HTLV?
Alive Springs in Australia
Why does Australia have a high prevalence of HTLV
Australia has subtype C of HTLV which is unique
What determines HTLV disease?
1) Number of years of infection/age
2) proviral load - more infected T cells, more chance of infection
3) HTLV integration site
4) proviral genome structure and expression
5) Antigen receptor of HTLV-1 infected cells
6) Immune control of HTLV-1 infected cells
