Title: Relationship of simian T-lymphotropic virus type III to human retroviruses in Africa.

POPLINE Document Number: 049629

Author(s):

Kanki PJ
Barin F
M'Boup S
Essex M

Source citation:

ANTIBIOTICS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 1987;38:21-7.

Abstract:

HTLV-I has common characteristics of a simian retrovirus (STLV-I), such as extremely cross reactive major viral antigens. Further, the major proteins of HTLV-III/HIV are similar to and cross react with those of STLV-III which causes an immunodeficiency syndrome similar to AIDS in macaque monkeys. It appears, however, that, even though STLV-III has been found in green monkeys, it does not adversely affect them. These similarities suggest that these viruses have a common ancestry. In their quest for more information on commonality between simian lymphotropic viruses and human retroviruses, researchers found that antibodies of healthy prostitutes in West Africa reacted with related antigens of STLV-III, e.g., the p24, p55, and gp 120/160 antigens. Researchers then isolated this human retrovirus and called it HTLV-IV. The prostitutes were healthy at the time of examination and 15 months later continued to show no symptoms of AIDS. This differs from global seroepidemiologic data of individuals with HTLV-III/HIV who, upon exposure, eventually develops AIDS related complex or AIDS. Present evidence shows that a number of related T-lymphotropic viruses affect their respective hosts pathogenically different. Further research may lead to the identification of distinctive structural and mechanistic differences responsible for the pathogenicity of the AIDS virus (HTLV- III/HIV). Research has shown that env-related antigens of HTLV-III/HIV, STLV-III, and HTLV-IV all cross react which means that common conserved regions of these viruses are immunogenic. Additional research marking these cross-reactive epitopes can provide the basis for the development of an AIDS vaccine.

Keywords:

Africa, Central
Africa, Western
Literature Review
Sex Workers
Population At Risk
Viral Diseases
HIV Infections
AIDS
Risk Factors
Genetic Technics
Hematologic Tests
Clinical Research
Africa South of the Sahara
Africa
Developing Countries
Sex Behavior
Behavior
Research Methodology
Diseases
Biology
Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses
Examinations and Diagnoses
Laboratory Procedures