papillomavirus | metapathogen

Human papillomavirus brief overview

General information

Place among other viruses Short version Full version

Classification based on genotype Short version Full version

Genome Short version Full version

Proteins Short version Full version

Viral life cycle Short version Full version

Mechanism of neoplastic development Short version Full version

Stages of cervical cancer Short version Full version

Vaccination Short version Full version

Taxonomy Short version Full version

References Short version Full version

Human Papillomavirus taxonomic lineage

Viruses - dsDNA viruses, no RNA stage - Papillomaviridae - Human papillomavirus types

General information

Papillomaviruses (PVs) (Papillomaviridae) are small, non-enveloped DNA viruses infecting birds and most mammals including humans.

Papillomaviruses are causative agents of usually benign tumors (warts, papillomas), however, several human papillomavirus types (including types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 66) have been classified as group 1 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC). Among them HPV16 accounts for almost 60% occurrences of cervical cancer, the second largest cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Second most important cancer-associated PV is HPV type 18.

Papillomaviruses are absolutely species-specific and extremely tissue-specific. The individual viruses show tropism for either cutaneous or mucosal surfaces usually at specific sites of the body, and, within these groups, they can be separated into high, moderate or low risk types, depending on their oncogenic potential.

Most people in the world are probably infected with at least one if not several types of HPV during their life.

Place among other viruses

In the past PVs and Polyomaviruses were placed in a common family, Papoviridae. In 1980's PVs were separated into their own family Papillomaviridae.

Read more about place of HPV among other viruses

Principles of classification based on genotype

Genera

Species

Types

Subtypes

Variants

Read more about HPV classification principles

Genome structure of HPV

All PVs contain a double-stranded, circular DNA genome approximately 8 kb in size that can be divided into 3 major regions. These regions are separated by two polyadenylation (pA) sites: early pA and late pA.

Long Control Region (LCR)

Early region

Early pA

Late region

Late pA