Molecular Mechanisms of HPV Infection in the Lower Genital Tract

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are small, non-enveloped viruses. They contain circular double-stranded DNA within an icosahedral capsid. Despite their small size, they have very complex molecular biology. They have 2 structural proteins (L1 and L2) that compose the viral capsid.[3-5] Also, they have 3 oncogenes (E5, E6 and E7) that modulate the transformation process.[3,4] Moreover, they have 2 regulatory proteins (E1 and E2) that modulate transcription and replication