The first descriptions of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were from the USA in 19811-3 although it is probable the first cases occurred in 1979.2 In Great Britain the first case occurred in 1981.4 In both countries there has been an exponential rise in the numbers of cases. The syndrome is defined by the Center for Diseases Control, Atlanta, Georgia, as characterised by opportuni...

Recognition of peptides bound to class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules by specific receptors on T cells regulates the development and activity of the cellular immune system. We have designed and synthesized de novo cyclic peptides that incorporate PEG in the ring structure for binding to class I MHC molecules. The large PEG loops are positioned to extend out of the peptide bi...

conclusions this epidemiological study indicated different rates and transmission risks for these viruses. hcv was the most contagious viral infection and htlv-i was the weakest in the prisoners. apart from kshv infection which its prevalence was as twice as in the general population, the prevalence of hbv and htlv-i in prisoners was nearly in ranges of the general population. background prison...

human t-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (htlv-1) is associated with adult t-cell leukemia/lymphoma (atl) and htlv-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (ham/tsp). only a limited percentage of infected individuals develop disease in response to the virus while the majority remain asymptomatic and ham/tsp is the most common clinical manifestation of the virus. ham/tsp is an inflamma...

c-Met is a tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor and suggested to be involved in oncogenesis ormetastatic phenotypes in many malignancies. Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is a neoplasia characterized by massive invasion of the leukemic cells into various organs. Recently, we have reported frequent hepatic involvement and the relationship between liver invasion and the poor prognosis...

The proviral DNA of human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) is known to be integrated monoclonally in the malignant cells of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), which is a peripheral T-cell malignancy caused by this virus. We studied the relationship between the integration patterns of HTLV-I and clinical characteristics in 89 patients with ATL. The proviral DNA of HTLV-I was examine...

BACKGROUND Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) type I has been linked to adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM). Transmission of HTLV by blood and organ transplantation has been documented, with some infections leading to clinical disease. Organ donors are tested for anti-HTLV antibodies and donor suitability is determined primarily by results from enzym...