HPV

(noun)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus from the papillomavirus family that is capable of infecting humans. Like all papillomaviruses, HPVs establish productive infections only in keratinocytes of the skin or mucous membranes. While the majority of the known types of HPV cause no symptoms in most people, some types can cause warts (verrucae), while others can – in a minority of cases – lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, oropharynx, and anus.

Related Terms

Examples of HPV in the following topics:

  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

    • Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus from the papillomavirus family that is capable of infecting humans.
    • Recently, HPV has been linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
    • Some sexually transmitted HPV types may cause genital warts.
    • HPV infection is a cause of nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
    • HPV vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil), which prevent infection with the HPV types (16 and 18) that cause 70% of cervical cancer, may lead to further decreases.

  • Cancer Immunology

    • Various strains of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) have recently been found to play an important role in the development of cervical cancer.
    • The HPV oncogenes E6 and E7 that these viruses possess have been shown to immortalise some human cells and thus promote cancer development.
    • Although these strains of HPV have not been found in all cervical cancers, they have been found to be the cause in roughly 70% of cases.
    • The study of these viruses and their role in the development of various cancers is still continuing; however, a vaccine has been developed that can prevent infection of certain HPV strains, and thus prevent those HPV strains from causing cervical cancer, and possibly other cancers as well.
    • Injection immunotherapy uses mumps, candida the HPV vaccine or trichophytin antigen injections to treat warts (HPV induced tumors).

  • Genital Warts

    • Genital warts is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease caused by some sub-types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
    • Warts are the most easily recognized symptom of genital HPV infection, where types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90% of genital warts cases.
    • Although it is estimated that only a "small percentage" (between 1% and 5%) of those infected with genital HPV develop genital warts, those infected can still transmit the virus.
    • Other types of HPV also cause cervical cancer and probably most anal cancers, however it is important to underline that the types of HPV that cause the overwhelming majority of genital warts are not the same as those that can potentially increase the risk of genital or anal cancer.
    • HPV prevalence at any one time has been observed in some studies at 27% over all sexually active people, rising to 45% between the ages of 14 and 19.

  • Cervical Cancer

    • Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection appears to be a necessary factor in the development of almost all cases (90+%) of cervical cancer.
    • HPV vaccines effective against the two strains of this large family of viruses that currently cause approximately 70% of cases of cervical cancer have been licensed in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the EU.
    • Since the vaccines only cover some of the cancer causing ("high-risk") types of HPV, women should seek regular Pap smear screening, even after vaccination.
    • Infection with some types of human papilloma virus (HPV) is the greatest risk factor for cervical cancer, followed by smoking.

  • Papanicolaou Test

    • HPV (Human Papiloma Virus) causes cervical cancer.
    • Pap smear screening is still recommended for those who have been vaccinated against HPV, since the vaccines do not cover all of the HPV types that can cause cervical cancer.
    • Also, the vaccine does not protect against HPV exposure before vaccination.

  • Development of New Vaccines

    • Gardasil is a human papillomavirus vaccine on the market and it protects against HPV-16 and HPV-18 which cause 70% of cervical cancers, 80% of anal cancers, 60% of vaginal cancers, and 40% of vulvar cancers.

  • Tissue Tropism in Animal Viruses

    • Gardasil is a human papillomavirus vaccine on the market and it protects against HPV-16 and HPV-18 which cause 70% of cervical cancers, 80% of anal cancers, 60% of vaginal cancers, and 40% of vulvar cancers.

  • Preventing Illness

    • HPV vaccines prevent certain cancers, and the influenza vaccine prevents influenza.

  • Viral Skin Diseases

    • They are caused by a viral infection, specifically by one of the many types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
    • Gardasil is an HPV vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancers and genital warts.

  • RNA Oncogenic Viruses

    • Human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been linked to cancer of the cervix, anus, penis, vagina/vulva, and some cancers of the head and neck.