Human T cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) oncoretrovirus was identified more than 25 years ago as the etiological agent of Adult T cell Leukemia (ATL). However, a series of questions remains unanswered: why is HTLV-1 infection life-long and why do only a limited number of patients develop a lethal disease? Why does leukemia occur 10 to 50-years after infection?
Our objectives are: (1) to understand the physiopathology of HTLV-1 infection from a viral point of view but also from an immunological point of view, in order to (2) elaborate new treatments that could either prevent the occurrence of diseases or cure patients after the onset of leukemia.
We use original approaches through which we compare the functions of several proteins encoded by a pathogenic virus (HTLV-1) and their counterparts produced by a less pathogenic virus (HTLV-2). We try to understand whether innate immunity is playing a positive role or is detrimental to the infected individuals. To achieve the discovery of new anti-HTLV-1 treatments, we take advantage of our unique expertise in the use of primate models that have been developed in the team. We benefit from ongoing collaborations with clinicians, epidemiologists, biochemists, and chemists.

Key words: Molecular virology, Infectiology, Therapy, Human retrovirus, HTLV, Leukemia, Transformation, Signaling, Innate immunity