[Present status of retroviruses in human infectious disease]

Retroviruses have been shown to be oncogenic in many animals for decades. In humans, retroviruses became worth of interest no sooner than in the early eighties. HIV is at the moment the last one of the well studied human retroviruses. Besides, HTLV-1, the prevalence of which is geographically restricted, is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, and with chronic myelopathies. This virus, as well as the closely related and rarer HTLV-2, is transmitted sexually, probably perinatally, and by infected blood and blood products. Among spumaviruses, an additional retrovirus subfamily, the human spumaretrovirus (HSRV)--or human foamy virus--seems to have a low pathogenicity for human, although it is believed to be associated with Graves disease. Finally, endogenous retroviruses address new issues in humans, in particular with regard to relationship between virus and host genetic inheritance. These viruses could play a role in neurodegenerative or autoimmune diseases.