Figure 2.

Proposed model for the stages of viral biofilm formation on human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infected T cells. Following initial infection, viral expression (and in particular Tax expression) leads to remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as carbohydrates (sialyl Lewis X), polymers components (Agrin and Collagen IV), linker proteins (Galectin-3 and Tetherin), and (Intercellular adhesion molecule-1, ICAM-1). Components whose expression is increased are underlined, and in bold when their expression is controlled by Tax. Production of viral particles embedded in the matrix forms the mature viral biofilm, which can be transmitted to a target cell by an unknown mechanism, or be released in the extracellular medium. The arrows with a question mark represent steps that remain to be determined. The figure was constructed using Servier Medical Art images.