Characterization of a sequence of human T cell leukemia virus type I from a patient with chronic progressive myelopathy.

DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals with chronic progressive myelopathy (CPM) were extensively analyzed for the presence of human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV) type I-like sequences by using the polymerase chain reaction. The DNA samples were amplified with oligonucleotides from three separate regions of HTLV viral genomes. A portion of the amplified viral genome from a representative patient was sequenced after molecular cloning into bacteriophage M13. Sequence data indicate that HTLV type I and not a related virus is associated with CPM.