Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Biology, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) are established as the most common sexually transmitted pathogens worldwide.

Research has shown that vaccination against the virus pre-infection prevents most HPV-linked diseases. There are

a variety of examples of these. Cervical cancer is the disease most commonly linked with HPVs, however they are

also linked with a variety of other cancers. These include cancers of the male and female genitalia, as well as the

head, neck, skin and oropharynx. Largely,these are caused by “high-risk “HPV types. Examples include HPV 16 and

1. Other types of HPV cause benign tumours (warts) in these regions. These are classed as “low-risk”and include

HPV 6 and 11.he majority of these pathogenic strains are key ingredients in the three current vaccines. These are

Gardasil-4, Cervarix, and Gardasil-9. However, a minority (30%) of HPV-linked diseases are caused by non-vaccine

strains. This leaves even those vaccinated at risk of infection and hence disease. This highlights that more broadly

protective vaccines are an urgent requirement for global eradication of HPV transmission and disease. This review

aims to first explore key principles of HPV`s virology and their applications to current vaccinology. Challenges to

these are then addressed followed by further exploration of these principles for prevention purposes.