Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections and innate immunity

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main risk factor for developing cervical cancer, which is the second most frequent malignancy in women globally. Around 40% of the HPV varieties that have been identified can infect the genital tract. HPVs are categorised as high (HR-HPV) or low risk (LRHPV) based on their oncogenic potential, with the former being linked to anogenital cancer and the latter to genital warts or epithelial lesions. Following HPV16 in frequency of detection in cervical cancer cases is HPV18.