Reflection About the Ancient Emergence of HTLV-2 Infection

Casseb, Jorge; Lopes, Luciano Rodrigo

doi:10.1089/aid.2022.0019

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Moreover, this specific strain can also cause HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) that results in the progressive weakness of both legs and 50% of untreated patients are expected to lose their ability to walk within 10 years of initial diagnosis. HTLV-2 was first detected in a patient with hairy cell leukaemia and is considered less pathogenic when compared to HTLV-1 [9]. HTLV-2 has arguably been associated with developing HAM/TSP in infected patients like HTLV1 [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An immunoinformatics and extended molecular dynamics approach for designing a polyvalent vaccine against multiple strains of Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)

Moin,

Rani,

Ullah

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), a group of retroviruses belonging to the oncovirus family, has long been associated with various inflammatory and immunosuppressive disorders. At present, there is no approved vaccine capable of effectively combating all the highly pathogenic strains of HTLV that makes this group of viruses a potential threat to human health. To combat the devastating impact of any potential future outbreak caused by this virus group, our study employed a reverse vaccinology approach to design a novel polyvalent vaccine targeting the highly virulent subtypes of HTLV. Moreover, we comprehensively analyzed the molecular interactions between the designed vaccine and corresponding Toll-like receptors (TLRs), providing valuable insights for future research on preventing and managing HTLV-related diseases and any possible outbreaks. The vaccine was designed by focusing on the envelope glycoprotein gp62, a crucial protein involved in the infectious process and immune mechanisms of HTLV inside the human body. Epitope mapping identified T cell and B cell epitopes with low binding energies, ensuring their immunogenicity and safety. Linkers and adjuvants were incorporated to enhance the vaccine’s stability, antigenicity, and immunogenicity. Initially, two vaccine constructs were formulated, and among them, vaccine construct-2 exhibited superior solubility and structural stability. Molecular docking analyses also revealed strong binding affinity between the vaccine construct-2 and both targeted TLR2 and TLR4. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated enhanced stability, compactness, and consistent hydrogen bonding within TLR-vaccine complexes, suggesting a strong binding affinity. The stability of the complexes was further corroborated by contact, free energy, structure, and MM-PBSA analyses. Consequently, our research proposes a vaccine targeting multiple HTLV subtypes, offering valuable insights into the molecular interactions between the vaccine and TLRs. These findings should contribute to developing effective preventive and treatment approaches against HTLV-related diseases and preventing possible outbreaks. However, future research should focus on in-depth validation through experimental studies to confirm the interactions identified in silico and to evaluate the vaccine’s efficacy in relevant animal models and, eventually, in clinical trials.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An immunoinformatics and extended molecular dynamics approach for designing a polyvalent vaccine against multiple strains of Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)

Moin,

Rani,

Ullah

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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“…However, as this fact had already been reported among the Arara do Laranjal [ 32 ] people, WB tests were performed, which identified one sample as HTLV-2, one with an HTLV profile and three samples with inconclusive results. These results would have the following explanations: (i) presence of defective particles that are associated with low levels of antibodies, which are identified in asymptomatic patients and in aggressive forms of ATL [ 33 , 34 ]; (ii) HTLV-2 endogenization hypothesis [ 35 ]; (iii) restriction of the applicability of immunoenzymatic assays to detect antibodies to HTLV-2c, predominantly found among indigenous peoples of the Brazilian Amazon [ 7 , 36 ]; and (iv) possible cross-reaction with other endemic infections in the Amazon, such as malaria [ 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HTLV-1/2 in Indigenous Peoples of the Brazilian Amazon: Seroprevalence, Molecular Characterization and Sociobehavioral Factors Related to Risk of Infection

Abreu

Lima

Sacuena

et al. 2022

Viruses

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HTLV-1/2 infection is endemic in Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Its origin is attributed to the migratory flow of Amerindian ancestral peoples. The present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection in Indigenous peoples of the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 3350 Indigenous people belonging to 15 communities were investigated. The investigation was performed using serological (ELISA), molecular (qPCR) and confirmatory (Western blot and/or Inno-Lia) tests to detect and differentiate the infection. The seroprevalence was 8.3% for HTLV-1/2 infection, with 0.1% of individuals seropositive for HTLV-1 and 8.1% for HTLV-2. The prevalence of infection was statistically higher in women (10.1%) than in men (6.5%) (p = 0.0002). This female predominance was observed in all age groups; in females the prevalence was significant from 41 years old (p < 0.0001) and in males from 51 years old (p < 0.0001). Here, we present a prevalence of HTLV-1/2 among Indigenous peoples of the Brazilian Amazon. The endemic infection in these groups must reflect the different epidemiological profiles observed in these peoples, such as sexual transmission through rejection of condom use, breastfeeding, especially in cases of cross-breastfeeding, and the high rate of pregnancy in the villages.

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“…Given the lack of firm association between HTLV-2 and any human illness, and the possibility to infect and integrate into human sperm cells, some authors have suggested that HTLV-2 could be in the process of becoming endogenous, as it seems to have occurred with 8% of the human genome. 33 Besides primitive native indigenous populations, HTLV-2 is characteristically prevalent among PWID worldwide, from North America and Europe to Vietnam. 34 As expected, sexual partners of HTLV-2 infected PWID are at high risk of infection.…”

Section: Htlv-2 Epidemicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The high prevalence of HTLV‐2 infection among some Amerindian tribes (i.e., Kayapo) in the Brazilian Amazon, 31 and in pygmies in Central‐West Africa 32 is remarkable. Given the lack of firm association between HTLV‐2 and any human illness, and the possibility to infect and integrate into human sperm cells, some authors have suggested that HTLV‐2 could be in the process of becoming endogenous, as it seems to have occurred with 8% of the human genome 33 …”

Section: Htlv‐2 Epidemicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The slowdown of new infections by human retroviruses has reached a plateau in Spain

Mendoza

Carrizo

Sauleda

et al. 2023

Journal of Medical Virology

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The 2022 annual meeting of the HTLV & HIV-2 Spanish Network was held in Madrid on December 14. We summarize here the main information presented and discussed at the workshop and review time trends for human retroviral infections in Spain. As transmissible agents, infections by human retroviruses are of obligatory declaration.Until the end of 2022, the Spanish national registry had recorded 451 cases of HTLV-1, 821 of HTLV-2, and 416 of HIV-2. For HIV-1, estimates are of 150 000 people currently living with HIV-1 and 60 000 cumulative deaths due to AIDS.During year 2022, new diagnoses in Spain were of 22 for HTLV-1, 6 for HTLV-2, and 7 for HIV-2. The last updated figures for HIV-1 are from 2021 and counted 2786 new diagnoses. The slowdown in yearly infections for HIV-1 in Spain points out that new strategies are needed to achieve the United Nations 95-95-95 targets by 2025.

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Reflection About the Ancient Emergence of HTLV-2 Infection

Cited by 6 publications

References 40 publications

An immunoinformatics and extended molecular dynamics approach for designing a polyvalent vaccine against multiple strains of Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)

An immunoinformatics and extended molecular dynamics approach for designing a polyvalent vaccine against multiple strains of Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)

HTLV-1/2 in Indigenous Peoples of the Brazilian Amazon: Seroprevalence, Molecular Characterization and Sociobehavioral Factors Related to Risk of Infection

The slowdown of new infections by human retroviruses has reached a plateau in Spain

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