HPV belongs to what family of viruses?
papillomaviruses
describe the structure of HPV
how is HPV transmitted generally?
is HPV a family of viruses or a single subset?
- 100s have been identified
what is the clinical presentation of HPV?
who experiences the majority of the HPV disease burden, men or women?
women
what would is indicated by a patient who has antibodies for HPV but receives a negative PCR test? what are the limitations of such a result?
what are the risk factors for cervical cancer? (5)
what are the risk factors for HPV? (6)
why is age a risk factor for hpv?
- cells that compose the cervix change as women mature (younger cells are most susceptive to HPV)
why does circumcision reduce the risk for hpv?
- there is less surface area which decreases the risk of spreading
how is hpv transmitted specifically?
through endothelial cells not liquids
what is the natural cycle of an hpv infection? are all of these steps reversible?
normal cervix => hpv infection => initiated cancer => benign tumor => malignant tumour
-all are reversible except from benign to malignant
where does “regression” occur in the hpv cycle?
from initated stem cell cancer back to hpv infection
where does “clearence” occur in the hpv cycle?
from hpv infection to normal cervix
describe the anatomy of the cervix
composed of 3 sections:
what is the transformation zone?
area of the cervix where the squamous epithelium of the external os meets the glandular epithelium of the endocervical canal
what is the significance of the transformation zone with respect to hpv?
this is the area where hpv infects susceptible cells
what are the 3 possible outcomes after hpv infection of the transformation zone?
(1) clearance: the majority of infections result in viral clearance within 2 years of the infection
- immune system is engaged
(2) persistance: infection does not clear on its own
- hpv tethers itself to host dna and continuously repiicates at low levels building up a reserve
- the immune system is not engaged
(3) progression: small portion progress to initiated cervical cancer stem cells
describe initiated cervical cancer stem cells
viral gene expression of the hpv genome is thought to be related to:
the state of differentiation of the infected epithelium
describe microabrasions as a mechanism for hpv infection
what are basal keratinocytes
define viral assembly as one of the 2 possible processes of hpv infection