Papillomaviruses Flashcards
What are the origins of Papilloma viruses thought to be?
- changes in the epithelium of reptiles millions of years ago
- coexisted with their hosts for along time so co-evolved, explaining why they often cause no or very mild symptoms (warts)
Which genera of papilloma virus infects humans?
- alpha papilloma virus
- akak human papillomavirus HPV
Describe the HPV virion
- small and non-enveloped
- has a capsid built from 72 pentameric capsomer subunits which is more resistant to destruction than an envelope
Describe the structure of the HPV genome
- contains a long control region (LCR)
- 8 genes spliced into a larger number of gene products
- 6 early (E) genes and 2 late (L) genes
- size and position of the major ORFs differs between HPV strains
What are the roles of HPV early genes E1 and E2?
viral DNA replication alongside host DNA replicationW
What are the roles of HPV early genes E3 and E8?
these are putative genes seen only in some HPV strains
What are the roles fo HPV early genes 4 + 5?
neede for amplification of the viral genome in the upper layers of the host epithelium
What are the roles of HPV early genes E6 and E7?
are oncogenic in high-risk HPVs - immortalise and genomically stabilise cells
What are the roles of HPV late genes L1 + L2?
form the viral capsid when in the upper host epithelium
What is the role of HPV LCR?
contains regulatory sequences needed for viral genome replication and expression
How does HPV replicate in host cell?
- attachment and entry (basal epithelium)
- uncoating and genome entry (circular dsDNA)
- replication and transcription (by host machinery)
- late gene expression and capsid formation
- assembly and release (cell lysis)
- infection of adjacent cells
How do HPV cells enter the epithelium and how is it maintained/regulated there?
- micro-wounds/lesions allow cells to acess the basal lamina and infect
- can be maintained in low copy number episomes in these less differentiated cells
- as the cells move upwards and begin to differentiate the virus begins to replicate and express late genes to produce new HPV virions in terminally differentiated cells
How can HPV persistently infect epithelial cells?
- at the basal lamina
- increased E6 and E7 expression
- can cause the formation of pre-cancerous lesions
- viral load is highest at this precancerous state
What kind of epithelial cells can HPV infect?
infect squamous epithelial both cutaneous and mucosal. infection of mucosal epithelium can be more invasive and dangerous
Which HPVs are associated with which outcomes?
- 30 HPVs associated with genital warts and growths
- 15 associated with cervical cancer
- HPV-18, 16 and 33 make up 70% of this