HPV

Question 1

what is the cervical screening programme?

Answer 1

• looks for HPV which can cause abnormal cells on the cervix
• early detection of precancerous or abnormal cells in the cervix

Question 2

pathogenesis of HPV

Answer 2

• mainly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact ( sexual activity )
• virus enters body through small cuts in skin/mucous membranes
• infects basal cells of epithelium ( areas - mouth, cervix, vagina, penis, anus )
• virus replicates within host cells - can cause infection
• most HPV infections are transient + cleared by immune system
• some lead to development of various lesions like genital warts
• can also lead to precancerous lesions

Question 3

risks of HPV infection

Answer 3

• precancerous lesions - dysplasia of infected cells
• genital warts - virus causing abnormal growth on skin

Question 4

herpes

stages of HSV2 infection of cervical cells leading to the production of new viral particles

Answer 4

• HSV-2 infects cervical cells by attaching to cell surface receptors + entering cells
• viral genetic material released into cell nucleus
• form new viral particles
• newly formed viral particles released from infected cervical cells - cell damage/death
• virus spreads to neighbouring cells