CNTN2 and infection: Altogether, these data thus indicate that (1) HTLV-1 persistence relies on a subtle equilibrium regulated by the expression of viral proteins stimulating cell-growth in infected cells and their elimination by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes; (2) TAX and HBZ cooperate to promote infected cell proliferation in the early and late steps of infection and (3) silencing of viral expression allow escape from immune response.