title: Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: State of the Art and Future Perspectives.
abstract: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a widely distributed and common virus, that causes benign lesions (such as warts and papillomas) but, if not cleared, can lead to malignant lesions as well, such as intraepithelial lesions and neoplasia. An extensive body of researches has demonstrated that E1 and E2 are involved in viral transcription and replication, E5, E6, and E7 act as oncoproteins, whilst L1 and L2 contribute to the formation of the capsid. However, this view has been recently challenged, since also E2 could play a role in HPV-induced carcinogenesis. Therefore, a complex picture is emerging, opening new ways and perspectives. The present article provides an overview of the biology of HPV, paying particular attention to its structural details and molecular mechanisms. The article also shows how this knowledge has been exploited for developing effective vaccines, both prophilactic/preventive and therapeutic ones. L1-based prophylactic vaccines, like Gardasil, Cervarix, and Gardasil 9, have been already licensed, whilst L2-based second generation preventive vaccines are still under clinical trials. New, highly immunogenic and effective vaccines can be further developed thanks to computer-aided design and bioinformatics/computational biology. The optimization of combinational therapies is another promising opportunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panatto
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amicizia
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola Luigi
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Bragazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizzitelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tramalloni
authors.affiliation: SSD "Popolazione a rischio," Health Prevention Department, Local Health Unit ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: robertobragazzi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D000068857:Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18 / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000068857:Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Cancer control; Human Papillomavirus; Prophylactic vaccines; Therapeutic vaccines; Virus-like particles vaccines