Alex Vorsters (Belgium)
University of Antwerpen Vaccine & Infectious Disease InstitutePresenter of 2 Presentations
HPV VACCINATION, ARE WE OVERLOOKING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTROL HPV INFECTION AND TRANSMISSION? (ID 530)
Abstract
Introduction
Due to distinctive immunogenic properties of human papillomavirus virus like particles (HPV VLPs) HPV vaccination generates a durable antibody response producing high-quality neutralizing antibodies. The viral survival strategy which includes hiding from the systemic immune system, is overruled by intramuscular injection generating huges amounts of vaccine induced antibodies. As other circulating immuno globulines G, vaccine inducted IgGs, are easily transuded to the genital mucosa and are detectable in genital secretions.
Methods
It is well accepted that these antibodies interact with the virions presented by an infected partner and inhibit infection.
Results
However, much less attention has been paid to the role of anti-HPV vaccine-induced antibodies in HPV-infected individual where infectious virions are encountered by neutralizing antibodies in mucosal secretions. Indeed, in these women vaccination may interfere with the auto-innoculation obstructing infectious virions to spread from sites with low potential for malignant progression to the transformation zone with higher potential for progression. Secondly, anti-HPV IgGs may potential also decrease the likelihood that women with a productive infection transmit the infection to their sexual partner.
Conclusions
Although it is challenging to investigate experimentally or epidemiologically this concept because of it potential impact there is a clear need to further investigate and document this concept. Indeed, if HPV vaccination of HPV-infected women has an effect on HPV transmission, auto-inoculation, and relapse after treatment this may influence how we model, assess and implement HPV vaccination programmes.