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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
piggyBac Transposon System Modification of Primary Human T Cells
Published on: November 5, 2012
[Cloning and expression of the transmembranic glycoprotein from human T cell lymphotropic virus in a prokaryotic
Elisa Maria de Sousa Russo-Carbolante1, Flora Cristina Lobo Penteado, Luciene Medeiros
1Centro Regional de Hemoterapia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. elisa@hemocentro.fmrp.usp.br
Abstract:
HTLV-1 is the virus that causes T cell lymphoma/leukemia in adults and a neurological disorder known as HTLV-associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis. One of the transmission means is through contaminated blood and its byproducts. Because of the risk of HTLV-associated infections, screening for HTLV was introduced for Brazilian blood donors in 1993. Most of the diagnostic kits used in the national blood banks are bought from foreign companies. Brazil does not have the technology to produce this material and there is a need to produce diagnostic systems with national technology. In this study, we show the expression of gp21/HTLV-1 in Escherichia coli and its reactivity towards monoclonal antibodies and the antibodies of infected patients. Expressing these proteins is the first step towards obtaining diagnostic kits with Brazilian biotechnology.
