Further, micro-abrasions that expose the basal layer in non-infected partners provide an opportunity for infection. HPV transmissionīecause viral particles are released as cells die or slough at mucosal epithelial surfaces, intimate interactions make transmission likely. The virus does not travel through the bloodstream, so infections do not occur at distant sites. This viral life cycle is also characterized by the fact that the virus remains in the area of the original infection. During a prolonged infection, viral genes might integrate into the cellular genome, paving the way for oncogenic transformation of the cell. So, if the immune system weakens, the virus will gain the upper hand and again ramp up gene expression. In rare cases, the immune system will keep the infection “in check,” but will not completely eliminate the infected cells. But, viral clearance can take months or even years.

In about 90 percent of people, the immune system works locally to keep viral gene expression in check and eventually clears the infection. During this process of cell death and shedding, viral particles are released, setting the stage for viral transmission. As the epithelial cells reproduce, each layer of cells is pushed up until it reaches the surface and sloughs. The infection typically starts at the basal, or bottom-most, layer of the epithelium. HPV viral replication does not lead to immediate cell death (unlike viruses like rotavirus), but rather causes infected cells to continue replicating. HPV types that cause anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers and genital warts infect epithelial cells that line the mucosal surfaces of these areas of the body.

The cell type of choice for HPV is epithelial cells. Like other viruses, HPV reproduces itself in human cells. Read on to check your answers to the above questions and find resources to share with patients who might have questions. So, this Cervical Health Awareness Month, we thought a quick refresher on HPV replication and transmission might be helpful. People are alarmed by a positive test result, confused if that result follows several years in a monogamous relationship, and concerned for themselves and their partners. If your patients ask, do you know how to answer the above questions? Through, we get many questions, and, often, they are related to how the virus spreads.

If I have a positive Pap test, does that mean I also have oral HPV?.

If my partner has genital warts and I am infected following oral sex, where will my infection occur?.

If I have HPV, can I spread it by kissing?.

Can you get hpv from touching hands