Antibodies against Tax and Gag p24, were reported to cross-react with host antigens, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1) and peroxiredosin-1 (PrX-1), respectively, suggesting a role for molecular mimicry in the autoimmune pathogenesis of HAM/TSP (Levin et al., 2002; Lee et al., 2008). This evidence concerns the gene HNRNPA1 and tropical spastic paraparesis.