Papillomavirus prophylactic vaccines: established successes, new approaches.
Vaccines against the human papillomaviruses (HPVs) most frequently associated with cancer of the cervix are now available. These prophylactic vaccines, based on virus-like particles (VLPs), are extremely effective, providing protection from infection in almost 100% of cases. However, the vaccines present some limitations: they are effective primarily against the HPV type present in the vaccine, are expensive to produce, and need a cold chain. Vaccines based on the minor capsid protein L2 have been very successful in animal models and have been shown to provide a good level of protection against different papillomavirus types. The potential of L2-based vaccines to protect against many types of HPVs is discussed.
Campo
M Saveria
MS
Division of Pathological Sciences, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Garscube Campus, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom. s.campo@vet.gla.ac.uk
Roden
Richard B S
RB
D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D000068857:Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000068857:Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines