Our research group, using an infection-transfection system based on Vaccinia virus WR/pLW44 followed by flow cytometric assay showed that the C-terminal portion of Tax protein is highly antigenic and recognize antibodies anti-HTLV-1 in individuals presenting HAM/TSP or rheumatologic diseases and also in asymptomatic carriers (14, 36). The gene discussed is CNTN2; the disease is tropical spastic paraparesis.