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Microorganisms
Special Issues
The Latest Research on Human Papillomavirus
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The Latest Research on Human Papillomavirus

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Virology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2026) | Viewed by 2700

Editors

Prof. Dr. Johannes Paul Bogers

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Interests: cancer
Prof. Dr. Themba G Ginindza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
Interests: epidemiology; public health; cancer
Dr. Ramokone Lebelo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Virological Pathology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0204, South Africa
Interests: virology; HPV; vaccination; HIV; molecular biology; cervical cancer; medicine; self sampling; vaccine preventable diseases; hepatitis B virus; HIV epidemiology; HIV drug resistance; HPV testing; HPV mRNA; viral STIs; HPV vaccination uptake; cervical cancer screening

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with a wide range of diseases that impose a significant global burden not only on health but also on societies and economies. The virus causes diseases of the anogenital, skin, and oral regions of the body, in addition to other organs. These diseases contribute to high mortality and morbidity rates, with cervical cancer, in particular, being especially prominent in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, recent HPV research has focused on improving prevention, early detection, improving treatment outcomes, and understanding its role in cancer progression.

Liquid-based cytology and HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer screening have been gaining traction in sub-Saharan Africa, whereas self-sampling for HPV DNA testing is rising as a strategy to improve cervical cancer screening. Furthermore, some studies have focused on whole-genome sequencing, which has allowed researchers to both study integration patterns that are linked to the development of cancer and track viral variants. Nevertheless, more investigations of methods to identify transforming infections in order to improve diagnosis and reduce overtreatment are paramount. Additionally, for the prevention of HPV infection and cervical cancer, an update on the challenges of HPV vaccination, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is of importance in order to meet the WHO’s 2030 goals. Thus, the aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for researchers working on HPV across diverse disciplines to exhibit their latest research and share new insights on HPV research.

We welcome original research manuscripts, method-based articles, and reviews that highlight the latest HPV research across a variety of disciplines.

Prof. Dr. Johannes Paul Bogers
Prof. Dr. Themba G Ginindza
Guest Editors

Dr. Ramokone Lebelo
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • HPV
  • molecular biology
  • HPV epidemiology
  • HPV drug resistance

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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17 pages, 5721 KB  
Article
Genetic Variation of HPV53 and the Identification of T-Cell Epitopes
by Li Wang, Sudan Jiao, Sihan Lan, Yuxiao Zhang, Jing Yu, Jie He, Hongping Zhang and Min Feng
Microorganisms 2026, 14(7), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14071395 - 24 Jun 2026
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Abstract
Human papillomavirus type 53 (HPV53) is one of the most prevalent HPV genotypes in China, frequently detected in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer, yet remains outside the coverage of all currently available prophylactic vaccines and is relatively understudied. This study performed a [...] Read more.
Human papillomavirus type 53 (HPV53) is one of the most prevalent HPV genotypes in China, frequently detected in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer, yet remains outside the coverage of all currently available prophylactic vaccines and is relatively understudied. This study performed a comprehensive analysis of HPV53 clinical infection profiles, genomic diversity, and T-cell epitopes to inform therapeutic vaccine development. Clinical analysis of 158 HPV53-positive patients showed that infections were most prevalent in women aged 40–59 years, with persistent infection identified in 13.3% participants and a subset of cases associated with cervical lesions. Genomic analysis of 134 HPV53 isolates identified four lineages (A-D, with lineage D further subdivided into four sublineages, and an overall nucleotide variability of 4.4%. E2 was the most variable protein while E7 was the most conserved. Immunoinformatic prediction identified 176 HLA class I-restricted T-cell epitopes across E6, E7, E1, and E2, from which 20 candidates were selected for experimental validation. Ten demonstrated strong HLA binding affinity in vitro, and murine immunization identified a E6 peptide VYNFAYTDL as an immunodominant epitope. Three validated epitopes exhibited sequence overlap with 12 to 13 of other 13 high-risk HPV genotypes, suggesting their potential as broadly cross-reactive targets. These findings clarify the genomic diversity and immunogenic epitope landscape of HPV53, providing a foundation for the rational design of therapeutic vaccines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Human Papillomavirus)
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13 pages, 610 KB  
Article
The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Cervical High-Risk HPV Positivity in Women: A Single-Center Study
by Cemal Çiçek, Mehmet Alican Sapmaz, Ayfer Bakır, Elif Tuğçe Güner and Murat Aral
Microorganisms 2026, 14(3), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14030555 - 28 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1162
Abstract
Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary etiological agent of cervical cancer. Although obesity has been proposed as a factor influencing HPV acquisition and disease course through immune and metabolic mechanisms, its role remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between [...] Read more.
Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary etiological agent of cervical cancer. Although obesity has been proposed as a factor influencing HPV acquisition and disease course through immune and metabolic mechanisms, its role remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and high-risk (HR)-HPV infection, including genotype distribution, infection type, and cytological findings. Methods: This cross-sectional study included women aged 21 years and older who underwent cervical sampling between August and November 2025. Participants were classified as non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m2) or obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). HR-HPV genotypes were detected using a multiplex real-time PCR method, and cytological evaluation was performed according to the Bethesda Cervical Cytology Reporting System. Results: Among 518 women, the overall HR-HPV positivity rate was 13.5%. No significant difference in HR-HPV positivity was observed between obese (11.6%) and non-obese (14.2%) women (OR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.44–1.44; p = 0.452). After age adjustment, obesity was not identified as an independent risk factor for HR-HPV infection. BMI was not associated with HPV genotype distribution, infection type, or cytological findings (all p > 0.05). HPV-68 was the most frequently detected genotype. Conclusions: BMI was not independently associated with HR-HPV infection or related clinical and cytological features. These findings suggest that HPV infection is primarily influenced by viral characteristics and host immune response, while BMI appears to play a limited role. Further multicenter prospective studies are needed to clarify the impact of obesity on HPV infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Human Papillomavirus)
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8 pages, 630 KB  
Brief Report
Reducing HPV Viral Burden in Men: A Synergistic Approach Using Pidotimod and Prophylactic Vaccination
by Claudio Ucciferri, Livia Moffa, Giuseppe Vittorio De Socio and Katia Falasca
Microorganisms 2026, 14(6), 1318; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14061318 - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 466
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains a major global health challenge, particularly when persistent high-risk genotypes lead to oncogenic progression. While prophylactic vaccines are effective, their role in accelerating the clearance of existing infections is still being explored. This study aimed to investigate the [...] Read more.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains a major global health challenge, particularly when persistent high-risk genotypes lead to oncogenic progression. While prophylactic vaccines are effective, their role in accelerating the clearance of existing infections is still being explored. This study aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of adjunctive Pidotimod therapy combined with the nonavalent HPV vaccine in reducing persistent genotypes and promoting clearance in men. This retrospective pilot study included 23 HIV-negative men with anal and/or genital HPV infections. Participants were divided into two groups: 7 received the standard nonavalent HPV vaccine alone (control), and 16 received oral Pidotimod (800 mg twice daily for 10 days surrounding each vaccine dose) in addition to the vaccine (treatment). HPV genotyping (28 types) was performed at baseline and 12 months using real-time PCR. At 12 months, the HPV-negative conversion rate was 62.5% in the Pidotimod + vaccine group compared to 28.6% in the control group (p = 0.19). While this primary difference in total clearance was not statistically significant due to the limited sample size, the treatment group showed a substantial per-patient reduction in the number of persistent genotypes, decreasing from a mean of 2.75 ± 2.05 to 0.50 ± 0.82, compared to a decrease from 3.43 ± 2.37 to 1.86 ± 1.07 in the control group. The Pidotimod group achieved a significantly lower number of persistent genotypes at 12 months compared to the control group (p = 0.008, Mann–Whitney U test). Additionally, the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was significantly associated with a lower rate of HPV clearance (12.5% vs. 73.3%, p < 0.01). Adjunctive therapy with Pidotimod suggests a promising trend in facilitating the reduction in HPV strain burden when combined with the HPV vaccine in men. While larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these effects, this exploratory approach could represent a promising immunomodulatory strategy for managing multiple and persistent HPV infections, even in high-risk groups such as PrEP users. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Human Papillomavirus)
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