[A new HTLV retrovirus associated with human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma].

The data concerning retrovirus HTLV isolated from patients with T-cell leukemia/lymphoma are presented. The virus differs from the known C type viruses, possesses high tropism to T-lymphocytes. The virus is exogenous for human cells and its origin is still unknown. Virus specific nucleotide sequences are absent in a normal cell genome, but they are detected in blood cells and tissues of patients with this form of leukemia. HTLV-associated disease is rare and distributed mainly in two regions in the world: in the South-West of Japan and in the Caribbean islands. Mode of the virus transmission is probably horizontal.