Human Retrovirology Research Articles

Precisely, with William Haseltine, Ph.D.: COVID Control American Style

Clinical OMICsVol. 8, No. 1 Precisely, with William Haseltine, Ph.D.Precisely, with William Haseltine, Ph.D.: COVID Control American StyleWilliam HaseltineWilliam HaseltineWilliam A. Haseltine, Ph.D., is known for his pioneering work on cancer, HIV/AIDS, and genomics. He was a professor at Harvard Medical School, the Harvard School of Public Health and founder of its Division of Biochemical Pharmacology and Division of Human Retrovirology. He has founded twelve biotechnology companies, including Human Genome Sciences, and is the author of several books, including his recently released autobiography My Lifelong Fight Against Disease: From Polio and AIDS to COVID-19.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:11 Feb 2021https://doi.org/10.1089/clinomi.08.01.31AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View articleFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 8Issue 1Jan 2021 InformationCopyright © GEN PublishingTo cite this article:William Haseltine.Precisely, with William Haseltine, Ph.D.: COVID Control American Style.Clinical OMICs.Jan 2021.46-48.http://doi.org/10.1089/clinomi.08.01.31Published in Volume: 8 Issue 1: February 11, 2021PDF download

Flossie Wong-Staal (1946–2020)

Trailblazing HIV researcher

Bioinformatic Prediction of Neuropathic Pain Signaling Pathways in Rheumatoid Arthritis after high throughput miRNA analysis

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a special subgroup of RNAs which work to prevent the expression of genes at the post‐transcriptional level by “silencing” them. That is, gene expression is prevented. This ultimately affects the pathways that they are a part of and the products produced by these pathways. Due to the ability of miRNA to bind to any base pair complementary to its own thus inhibiting expression of the sequence it is bound to, they are often involved in multiple cellular pathways. The relation between a specific clinical outcome and an exact pathway that a miRNA is involved is hard to establish because of the sheer number of potential pathways one miRNA could be involved in. Bioinformatic predictions are useful because they allow us to identify the most probable pathway. That is, through the careful analysis of miRNA’s targets and the prediction of the targets’ interactions in biological mechanisms. In this project, we predicted the pathways related to deregulation of miR‐223‐3p and miR‐16‐5p. Both miRNAs were correlated with neuropathy‐related clinical measures (neuropathic pain (ID Pain) and the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCNS) respectively (Pearson Coeff.ID Pain=0.556, p=0.014) and (Pearson Coeff.TCNS= −0.5, p=0.02)). To predict possible neuropathic pain signalling pathways in people afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, we used the miRDB database. We identified 1,485 targets and selected targets with scores of 60+ to carry out a gene ontology analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Conducted through DAVID Software from the Laboratory of Human Retrovirology and Immunoinformatics, KEGG identified 72 pathways as the most likely affected by deregulation of miR‐223‐3p and miR‐16‐5p. Several pathways on this list including the FoxO, neurotrophin and sphingolipid signalling pathways are related to pain and neuropathic outcomes. Future studies will have to determine whether both miRNAs affect these pathways directly and in relationship to RA.Support or Funding InformationSupport for student stipends, supplies, and/or equipment used in this research was supplied by the Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM) at John Jay College. PRISM is funded by the Title V program within the U.S. Department of Education; the PAESMEM program through the National Science Foundation; and New York State’s Graduate Research and Technology Initiative and NYS Education Department CSTEP program.

H-104 ATL, ADF and human virus research

Prehistory of ATL Discovery and ADF/TRX. More than 40 years have passed since our initial description of peculiar cases of adult-onset leukemia with abnormal cells having multi-convoluted nuclei and T cellproperties, frequent in the southern regions of Japan in the early 1970s. In the initiation of Adult T-Cell Leukemia (ATL) research, both of my mentors Drs. Kimishige Ishizaka and Kiyoshi Takatsuki have been involved. Dr. Kiyoshi Takatsuki was a kind of hero of our medical school in B cell malignancy multiple myeloma and Heavy Chain Diseases. Dr. Kimishige Ishizaka, Discoverer of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) reaginic antibody, and Dr. Takatsuki had been working in the field of Immunoglobulin and myeloma proteins with great pioneers including late H Kunkel, and EF Osserman. Before my first description of ATL Cases with Dr. Takatsuki and the active instruction of late Dr. Toru Masuda in the Institute for Virus Res (IVR) of Kyoto Univ. returning from the Late Dr. L Herzenberg in Stanford Univ., I had been involved in the study of peculior myeloma-related disease, POEMS Syndrome/Takatsuki Disease/Crow-Fukase Syndrome. The POEMS Syndrome are characterized by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, myeloma protein, and skin changes. Drs. Y. Nishitani and Late M. Fukase in Kyoto Univ. also contributed in this Takatsuki Disease/Syndrome research. Indeed, Dr. Takatsuki was a kind of hero of our medical school in B cell malignancy multiple myeloma and HeavyChain Diseases, before ATL and HTLV. Retrospectively, the study of adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and the related virus HTLV-I was a forerunner for all of human retrovirology, in which AIDS and the related retrovirus HIV were identified a few years later in the 1980s. I remember the great contribution of late Dr. Yohei Ito, who had initiated the cooperative interaction between Kyoto and Dr. Gallo in NCI in 70's. Using the anti-TAC monoclonal antibody generated by the late Dr. Takashi Uchiyama, my close colleague, during his stay in Dr. T. A. Waldmann's laboratory in NIH Bethesda, a cDNA encoding IL-2Ra chain was cloned by our group in Kyoto and by Waldmann's group in Bethesda. Abnormal IL-2Ra chain expression and the IL-2 dependency of ATL cell lines greatly contributed to the study of leukemogenesis of ATL. A new soluble factor named ADF/ATL-derived factor was also detected in ATL cell lines. Dr. Michiyuki Maeda greatly contributed establishing many ATL cell lines with his green thumb. After years of study, ADF proved to be a first human counterpart of thiol-related oxido-reductase thioredoxin/TRX, which opened the field of redox regulation of cell signaling involved in a variety of diseases. Quite interestingly, TRX-family member protein, GIF/MIF involved in the IgE regulation was characterized by the group of Dr. K. Ishizaka who have moved from J. Hopkins Univ. Baltimore to La Jolla, LIAI. Close interaction among Drs. Kimishige Ishizaka, Kiyoshi Takastuki and T. A. Waldmanns before ATL and HTLV-I study was an essential base for our initiation of ATL research with late Takashi Uchiyama and many other close colleagues. I remember Dr. Gallo's helpful comment on the importance of the 3 Letter naming of ATL and ADF. In the therapeutic directions of ATL, monoclonal antibody seems to be still struggle: (1) Anti-Tac IL-2Ra Chain Therapies have been geared by TA Waldmann Group with many coworkers. However, the therapeutic effectiveness may be limited; (2) Anti-CCR4 mAbs applied to ATL cases by Dr. R Ueda Group in Japan is therapeutically effective. However high frequency of severe side effect namely Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN) have been reported. I may recall great contribution of late Drs. Takashi Uchiyama, Mitsuru Tsudo, Kazumasa Usami in Kyoto Univ. and Thomas Tursz of IGR Paris in our early ATL and ADF research. This paper is also dedicated for late Dr. Kimishige Ishizaka, discoverer of IgE and my great mentor close to Dr. Kiyoshi Takatsuki.

17th International Conference on Human Retroviruses: HTLV and Related Viruses, Trois Ilets, Martinique,(FWI). 18-21 June 2015

The 17th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses took place in Trois Ilets, Martinque (FWI) from June 18th to June 21th, 2015. The main topic covered during the meeting was human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLVs) and was subdivided in distinct sessions: clinical research, animal models, immunology, molecular and cellular biology, and virology. The following abstracts were presented. Five of the presented abstracts are not included in this supplement as they have been published elsewhere [1-5].

Prevalence of HTLV-1 infection in northeast of Iran

Northeast of Iran is a new endemic. Area for HTLV-1 and for the first time. Farid and his Immunology Dep at Mashhad University published paper and then Farid and safae in Aids research and human Retro virology volt 12 November 12 1996. Published prevalence of HTLV-1 in Iran several. Publication describes the prevalence of HTLV-1 in Jewish individuals born in city of Mashhad Iran. Then we reported serological and generic studies in the non Jewish population of Mashhad as well as Neishabour. Seropositive rate of HTLV-1 in Mashhad is 3.0% (21of 694). DNA sequence were amplified by PCR directly from the fresh PRMCs of seropositive individuals from Mashhad. Phylogenetic analysis of the viral DNA sequence indicated that HTLV-1 in Mashhad belong to the cosmopolite clade. ATL and HAM/TSP is common in the northeast of Iran.

Molecular characterization of heterogeneity in adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma

Adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) is a highly heterogeneous neoplasm caused by human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. Shimoyama et al first proposed a prognostic classification based on clinical features. However subsequent studies have highlighted even greater heterogeneity and progression from indolent to aggressive subtypes. The molecular basis for this heterogeneity and progression remains unknown. Our aims were to identify molecular markers that characterize this heterogeneity and progression. We studied expression of T-cell markers and clonality (Ligation Mediated PCR) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in samples collected from HTLV-1 infected patients (16 asymptomatic carrier [AC], 18 with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy [HAM], 18 with indolent ATL [five smouldering & 13 chronic] and seven with acute ATL) attending the National Centre for Human Retrovirology, London. 11/18 indolent ATL required no systemic treatment and one progressed to acute ATL. The remainder required systemic therapy and all except one achieved complete remission with zidovudine/interferon. 6/7 with acute ATL had primary refractory disease. Clonality testing showed no dominant clones in the AC, patient with HAM and 6 of the 11 patients with indolent ATL who didn't require systemic therapy. We confirmed CD4+CCR4+ as the main reservoir of HTLV-1 infection. These CD4+CCR4+ T cells had CD7+CD25+CD26+CD127+CCR7-immunophenotype in AC, HAM and indolent ATL with no dominant clones. CD7 down-regulation within CD4+CCR4+ T cells identified ATL patients with dominant clone(s). CD127 down-regulation within CD4+CCR4+ T cells was present in all indolent ATL patients which required systemic therapy. Nine patients with ATL (all acute and two indolent) had CCR7 up- regulation of which all but two had primary refractory disease. Longitudinal follow up in six patients showing changing immunophenotype which correlated with clinical features and prognosis. In conclusion CD7, CD127 and CCR7 expression within CD4+CCR4+ infected cells further characterises the heterogeneity within ATL with therapeutic implications.

Comparison of clinical, immunological and virological markers in patients with HTLV-1 / HIV-1 co-infection with those with mono-infection

This is a study of the HTLV-1/HIV-1 co-infected cohort attending the National Centre for Human Retrovirology in London. In a retrospective analysis, demographic, clinical, immunological and virological data was described. A subgroup of patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for more than twelve months with an undetectable HIV viral load was identified and compared to a matched HTLV-1 mono-infected group. In an ongoing prospective study, HIV-1 mono-infected patients are recruited and virological and immunological parameters compared to the HTLV/HIV co-infected and HTLV mono-infected groups. 29 co-infected patients had a median age of 47 years, 55% were male and over 80% identified with the Black – African/Caribbean ethnic group. The median time on cART was 6 months. CD4/CD4% cell counts were lower in stable co-infected patients (508 cells/mm3, p=0.2 / 27.9%, p<0.1) than HTLV mono-infected patients (941 cells/mm3/46.2%). There was a significant trend towards increased markers of T cell activation (TCA) in co-infected patients (Table 1), when compared to TCA markers in either mono-infected group. There were no statistically significant differences in pro-inflammatory cytokines between co-infected and mono-infected patients. However, there was a trend towards higher median interleukin-2 and gamma interferon concentrations in the co-infected group. Response to cART was not blunted in co-infection, and there was normalisation of CD4 counts over 12 months. In one patient absolute HTLV pVL (pro-viral load) increased 12 months after treatment with cART. The results demonstrate that there are differences between HTLV/HIV co-infected and mono-infected patients; notably increased immune activation, despite successful treatment with cART. It is hypothesised that co-infection creates an environmental milieu, reflected by increased immune TCA, that is associated with a higher prevalence of HTLV associated myelopathy that is observed in this group.

Baseline CD8 T-cell activation is not associated with survival in ATLL

Adult T-cell lymphoma/leukaemia (ATLL) is known to be associated with poor immune response. Currently, it is not clear whether this is contributory to, or the consequence of the development of ATLL. In the National Centre for Human Retrovirology (NCHR) in London, we measured CD8/DR expression (a marker of T-cell activation) at ATLL presentation in our cohort of patients and compared these findings with a control population of aged-matched patients with myelopathy (HAM) and asymptomatic carriers (AC). The normal range for CD3+ CD8+ HLA-DR in HTLV-1 uninfected adults is 5.7% – 38.2%. The median overall survival status in our cohort of patients with ATLL (n = 53) is 9 months for acute subtype (range 3-22 months), lymphoma subtype 13.9 months (range 1-135 months), chronic subtype 64 months (range 8-144 months) and smouldering subtype 115 months. The median CD3+ CD8+ HLA-DR for AC was 25% (range 11-76%, n=20), 44% HAM (range 19-80%, n=20) and 45% for all ATLL subtypes (range 9-87%, n=26). By ATLL subtype: acute 58% (range 22-72%, n=5), lymphoma 43.5% (range 11-80%, n=10), chronic subtype 41% (range 23-60%, n=9), cutaneous 50% (n=1), smouldering subtype 46% (n=1). These data show that there is a significant increase in CD3+CD8+ HLA-DR expression in all ATLL subtype compared with AC and similar to that observed in patients with HAM. CD3+CD8+ HLA-DR expression is most marked in the acute subtype which is also associated with shortest survival. Despite evidence of CD8 T-cell activation this does not appear to be protective or associated with improved survival.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in mothers and their children in Malawi.

ObjectivesHepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence is poorly mapped in the East African region; with the advent of novel HCV therapies, better epidemiological data are required to target the infection. We sought to estimate HCV prevalence in healthy Malawian mothers and assess mother-to-child transmission (MTCT); context is provided by reviewing previously published HCV prevalence data from the region.MethodsUsing ELISA screening and confirmatory blot, serological testing of 418 healthy Malawian mothers for HCV was performed. To examine MTCT, the children of any positive women were also tested for HCV; all children had malignant disease unrelated to hepatocellular carcinoma. We compared our results to published literature on HCV prevalence in Malawi and its neighbouring countries.ResultsThree of 418 women were HCV reactive by ELISA; two were confirmed positive by immunoblot (0.5%). One child of an HCV-infected mother was HCV seropositive. The literature review revealed HCV prevalence ranging from 0 to 7.2% in the region, being highest in Tanzania and specifically for cohorts of inpatients and HIV-co-infected people. The overall estimated prevalence of HCV in Malawi was 1.0% (95%CI 0.7–1.4) when all studies were included (including this one), but lower in healthy cohorts alone at 0.3% (95%CI 0.1–1.2).ConclusionsThis is the first study using confirmatory tests to examine HCV prevalence in healthy Malawian mothers; the prevalence was low. Future studies need to address the source of infection in healthy women.

Conference highlights of the 16th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and related retroviruses, 26-30 June 2013, Montreal, Canada.

The 16th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses was held in Montreal, Québec from June 26th to June 30th, 2013 and was therefore hosted by a Canadian city for the first time. The major topic of the meeting was human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLVs) and was covered through distinct oral and poster presentation sessions: clinical research, animal models, immunology, molecular and cellular biology, human endogenous and emerging exogenous retroviruses and virology. In this review, highlights of the meeting are provided by different experts for each of these research areas.

16th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses

The 16th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses took place in Montreal (Canada) from June 26th to June 30th, 2013. The main topic covered during the meeting was human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLVs) and was subdivided in distinct sessions: clinical research, animal models, immunology, molecular and cellular biology, human endogenous and emerging exogenous retroviruses and virology. The following abstracts were presented. Additional information about the conference can be found in Additional File 1.

Treatment of patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy with methotrexate

The lifetime risk of developing HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM) is 0.25-3%. The main pathological feature is an immune-mediated response leading to chronic inflammation of the spinal cord. The optimal long term treatment has yet to be determined although clinical improvement with ciclosporin has been shown in a pilot study. Methotrexate, commonly used for autoimmune diseases, was introduced for the treatment of HAM at the National Centre for Human Retrovirology, London, UK as an alternative to ciclosporin.

The discovery of ATL: an odyssey in restrospect

Forty years have passed since our initial description of peculiar cases of adult-onset leukemia with abnormal cells having multi-convoluted nuclei and T cell properties, frequent in the southern regions of Japan in the early 1970s. Retrospectively, the study of adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and the related virus HTLV-I was a forerunner for all of human retrovirology, in which AIDS and the related retrovirus HIV were identified a few years later in the 1980s. Using the anti-TAC monoclonal antibody generated by the late Takashi Uchiyama during his stay in T. A. Waldmann's laboratory in NIH Bethesda, a cDNA encoding IL-2Rα chain was cloned by our group in Kyoto and by Waldmann's group in Bethesda. Abnormal IL-2Rα chain expression and the IL-2 dependency of ATL cell lines greatly contributed to the study of leukemogenesis of ATL. A new soluble factor named ADF/ATL-derived factor was also detected in ATL cell lines. After years of study, ADF proved to be a first human counterpart of thiol-related oxido-reductase thioredoxin/TRX, which opened the field of redox regulation of cell signaling involved in a variety of diseases. Close interaction among Drs. Kimishige Ishizaka, Kiyoshi Takastuki and T. A. Waldmanns before ATL and HTLV-I study was an essential base for our initiation of ATL research with Takashi Uchiyama and many other colleagues.

Conference highlights of the 15th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and related retroviruses, 4-8 June 2011, Leuven, Gembloux, Belgium.

The June 2011 15th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Viruses marks approximately 30 years since the discovery of HTLV-1. As anticipated, a large number of abstracts were submitted and presented by scientists, new and old to the field of retrovirology, from all five continents. The aim of this review is to distribute the scientific highlights of the presentations as analysed and represented by experts in specific fields of epidemiology, clinical research, immunology, animal models, molecular and cellular biology, and virology.

The 15th International Conference on Human Retroviruses: HTLV and Related Viruses

The 15th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses was organized in Belgium in the cities of Leuven and Gembloux from June 5 to June 8, 2011. The main topics of the meeting were human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and endogenous retroviruses. The following abstracts were presented.

A specificity map for HTLV-1 Tax/PDZ interactions

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) encodes a Tax oncoprotein that is critical for both viral replication and cellular transformation. HTLV-1 Tax possesses a PDZ domain binding motif (PBM) at its C-terminus that is essential for its transforming activity in a Rat-1 model and for IL-2. Tax has been shown to interact with several PDZ domain containing proteins including PSD-95, Beta1-syntrophin, the precursor of interleukin-16, the mammalian homolog of the Drosophila discs large tumor suppressor protein Dlg, PDLIM2, Lin7, hTid1, Tip1, hScrib and MAGI3. In the 15th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses, we will present a specificity map for the Tax/PDZ domain interactions generated using the human ORFeome 5.1. and we will focus on some of the new Tax/PDZ interactions.

Smouldering Adult T-Cell Leukaemia/Lymphoma (ATLL) Is Not Associated with An Increased Risk of Aggressive ATLL In HTLV-1 Positive Patients

AbstractAbstract 4167 Introduction:Criteria for the diagnosis of smouldering adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) are the detection of anti-HTLV-1 antibodies, total lymphocyte count <4×109/L, ≥ 5% abnormal lymphocytes of T cell nature in the peripheral blood, normal corrected calcium and LDH <1.5 times the upper limit of normal. Skin or lung involvement may be present but no other organ involvement is permitted. Smouldering ATLL has been associated with 2 and 4 year survival of 77.7% and 62.8% respectively. Aim:To identify whether patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for smouldering ATLL are at increased risk of aggressive ATLL. Methods:A retrospective analysis of patients referred to the National Centre for Human Retrovirology, London between 1991 and 2007, excluding those diagnosed with ATLL prior to referral. Demographic and clinical data were collected at initial review. HTLV-I viral DNA was quantified by real-time PCR. Results:Blood films were reported for 150 new HTLV-1 infected patients, 114 female and 36 male, the majority of Afro-Caribbean or African origin. Median follow up was 3.7 years.92 (61%) were asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (ACs) and 58 (39%) had HTLV-associated inflammatory disease (HAID) of which HTLV associated myelopathy (HAM) accounted for the majority (n = 54). ≥5% abnormal lymphocytes were documented in 43 (29%) in whom the percentage of abnormal lymphocytes was significantly higher in those patients with HAID than ACs (p=0.006) although the total lymphocyte counts were similar in the two groups. Globulin, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and beta 2 microglobulin (β2M) were all higher in the HAID group. HTLV-1 viral load was significantly higher in males than in females and in those with HAID. On multivariate analysis β2M was independently predictive of disease status between ACs and HAID. Overall abnormal lymphocytes were observed in the blood of 75% of patients. An irregular or convoluted nucleus was the most frequent abnormality while cleft or bi-lobed nuclei, large granular lymphocytes, flower cells and abnormally large lymphocytes were also observed. Flower cells were identified in 17% of cases and their presence was associated with both a higher overall percentage of abnormal lymphocytes and viral load (% abnormal lymphocytes 4% v 2%, p=0.008; viral load 9.3% v 4.5%, p=0.048). Three patients (2%) developed aggressive ATLL, in all cases lymphomatous, after 2.8, 6.4 and 10 years follow up. Only one had ≥5% abnormal lymphocytes but all had viral load ≥10% at presentation. Two had HAID while one was an AC. The incidence of aggressive ATLL in this cohort was 4.1 cases per 1000 person-years (95% CI 0.83 – 11.9) equating to four cases per 100 HTLV-1 carriers per decade. No patient with HTLV-1 proviral load <10% developed aggressive ATLL. Conclusion:In this cohort fulfilment of the Shimoyama classification for smouldering ATLL was not associated with an increased risk of developing aggressive ATLL (1/43 v 2/107) during a median of 3.7 years of follow up. We therefore propose that ATLL should not be diagnosed in the absence of a raised lymphocyte count and/or organ involvement. However HTLV-1 proviral load does appear to be an important predictor for risk of ATLL and further study to identify patients at risk prior to development of this aggressive malignancy is warranted. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstracts from the 14th International Conference on Human Retrovirology HTLV and Related Retroviruses Salvador, Brazil • July 1–4, 2009

Abstracts from the 14^th International Conference on Human Retrovirology HTLV and Related Retroviruses Salvador, Brazil • July 1–4, 2009

The 14th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and related retroviruses (July 1–4, 2009; Salvador, Brazil)

The "14th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses" was held in Salvador, Bahia, from July 1st to July 4th 2009. The aim of this biennial meeting is to promote discussion and share new findings between researchers and clinicians for the benefit of patients infected by human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV). HTLV infects approximately 15–20 million individuals worldwide and causes a broad spectrum of diseases including neurodegeneration and leukemia. The scientific program included a breadth of HTLV research topics: epidemiology, host immune response, basic mechanisms of protein function, virology, pathogenesis, clinical aspects and treatment. Exciting new findings were presented in these different fields, and the new advances have led to novel clinical trials. Here, highlights from this conference are summarized.