Seaman, W.T., Andrews, E., Et

Seaman, W.T., Andrews, E., et al., (2010). Detection and quantitation of HPV in genital

and oral tissues and fluids by real time PCR. Journal of Virology. 7 (3): 194+.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a serious human pathogen that has at least 200 known types infectious to humans. In some cases, HPV is as minor but annoying as warts, but as serious as leading to cancers in both men and women -- including almost all known cases of cervical cancer (Walboomers, J., et al., 1999). In the developed world, cervical screening using a Papanicolaou (Pap) test is used to detect abnormal cells that have the potential for cancer. If abnormal cells are found, the individual may elect to have them removed through cryotherapy. Treating abnormal cells in this way can prevent them from developing into cancer. However, in anogenital/oral cancers and wars, there are four sets of viruses that are of concern, and no single test that distinguishes the most common types of these viruses.

Recent research has found that it is possible to use a specific antigen to screen for specific types of viruses that code within a particular light source. These assays were developed as a response to the growing number of anogenital warts, prior to this development, the results were of any testing were quite expensive, varied in their reliability, and were most certainly never done in a regular clinical setting. Specifically dealing with the healthcare paradigm, research needed to increase the viability of the test, while reducing the cost of performing the test, assaying and interpreting the results; all the while staying within goal target of an inexpensive enough test that engenders the ability for its use in the developing world as well. These assays may be of significant use in deciphering the importance of HPV replication prior to disease development. "The use of these qPCR assays have significant utility in distinguishing the presence of specific types of HPV. The one tube multiplex assay containing type/fluorophore specific TaqMan probes directed against HPV 6,11,16 and 18 provides a quick reliable method of distinguishing between HPV types and quantitating viral load while minimizing reagent costs and reducing errors" (Seaman, et al., 2010).

The importance of this study is threefold: 1) it allows a new series of assays to be used in the clinical setting to detect the more common HPVs that cause genital and anal warts; 2) the assays are both robust and yet inexpensive enough to use globally, and, 3) the tests are designed to use real-time PCR technology, which allows for the rapid identification and quantification of these pathogenic types of HPV. The technology and protocols used in this development will also likely have an effect on the ability to roll out testing for other HPV-like viruses, ostensibly even the HIV virus in a real-time, inexpensive manner. The lab results also suggest that as the at risk population for HPV increases, early testing and intervention might reduce the number of symptomatic individuals since they will have been tested and potentially treated much earlier.