Vertical Transmission of Human Papillomavirus Infections

Dear Colleagues,

Though HPV infection of genital mucosa is recognized as a sexually transmitted infection (STI, the source of this infection can rarely (if ever) be identified. Furthermore, almost everyone acquires an HPV infection by adulthood, unlike other known STIs.

HPV infects the aero-digestive tract, and these oral and oral-pharyngeal HPV infections have been frequently ascribed to oral sex. However, these infections are also found in infants and young children, and thus, sexual abuse as a potential mode of transmission has been discussed in this context. Contradictory to all other anatomic sites, HPV infection of the larynx in infants and young children causing recurrent juvenile respiratory papillomas (JoRRP) is a consequence of maternal infection.

In order to prevent HPV infection, it is essential to know how and when the first HPV infection is acquired. This applies to infection with both mucosal low-risk and high-risk HPV types, as well as infections with the skin HPV types. The first HPV infection can be vertical. Vertical transmission has different modes, such as peri-conceptual transmission during fertilization or thereupon, prenatal transmission in utero during pregnancy, as well as perinatal transmission during vaginal delivery. After birth, horizontal HPV transmission is possible during nursing, between family members or in daycares and school. Maternal passive immunization as well as innate and adaptive immunity of children are of importance in understanding the outcome of HPV infections, irrespective of whether acquired vertically or later in life.

The consequences of maternal infections (even the subclinical ones) during pregnancy can be multiple and fatal or significantly harmful for the developing fetus, resulting in perinatal complications and/or chronic disease throughout postnatal life. On the other hand, early viral replication may lead to the development of HPV immunity at an early age, which may be central to combating future HPV infections, e.g., STIs.

This Special Issue aims to cover research relating to the frequency and modes of vertical transmission of both mucosal and cutaneous HPV genotypes. It will also focus on the role of passive immunization via mother, the development of HPV-specific immune response at early ages and its impact on clearing early HPV infections. We invite you to share your recent findings or perspectives on vertical transmission of papillomaviruses in human and also in animal species.

Prof. Dr. Stina Syrjänen
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses 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 2600 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.