A world-first antiviral treatment has been developed for human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which researchers say has ‘significant potential‘.
Currently, no antiviral treatment options exist for the treatment of HPVs. The viruses cause infections in the skin and mucous membranes, which can develop into cancers – including those of the head and neck.
Researchers have now found that a small molecule compound known as NSC51349 shows promise as an antiviral in lab tests. It works by blocking a critical protein in the virus to stop it from multiplying.
The tests showed that the compound reduced viral load without harming the host cells containing the virus.
Alla Piirsoo is a molecular virologist and leader of the study. She said: ‘The inhibitor may represent a new class of HPV-specific antiviral drugs with significant potential. Unlike [HPV] vaccines, which rely on the functioning immune system our strategy could benefit people with compromised immunity who currently have very limited therapeutic options.’
The next stage of the research will be animal testing. Dr Piirsoo said: ‘If the compound works in the animal model, it would be strong evidence that it could be developed into an effective antiviral treatment for HPVs.’
Published in the Journal of Virology, the study tested more than 1,500 chemicals for their efficacy against HPV type five.
Risk factors for oral HPVs
Another recent study found that people with a cervical HPV infection were more than twice as likely to develop an oral infection. While one in eight people with a cervical HPV infection have an oral infection, just one in 25 people carry the infection orally but not in the cervix.
Dr Adél Eszter Mózes, a dental PhD student at Semmelweis University and first author of the study, said these findings could help with earlier detection of oral HPV infections.
She said: ‘Currently, the absence of a clear oral and oropharyngeal lesion that precedes HPV-related throat cancers makes early detection extremely difficult.
‘But identifying women with cervical HPV as a high-risk group could open new pathways for prevention, including closer monitoring and referral to ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists or dentists.’
The study also identified some risk factors for the development of HPV infections, including smoking and use of oral contraceptives. It found that female prisoners were at a greater risk due to more frequent oral sexual activity.
However, sex workers were not found to have higher levels of HPV infections despite having an averagely higher number of sexual partners. The researchers suggest this is because they are more likely to use barrier contraceptives such as condoms during oral sex.
Inadequate oral hygiene was also found to be a risk factor as it can lead to a disrupted oral microbiome, periodontitis and periodontal pockets. These contribute to HPV infection and persistence, potentially acting as reservoirs for the virus.
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